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By I7<3<9,I7 




HARVARD 
COLLEGE 
LIBRARY 



'i* 



DOCUMENTARY ANNALS 



OP THE 



REFORMED CHURCH OF ENGLAND; 



BEING 



A COLLECTION 



OP 

INJUNCTIONS, DECLARATIONS, ORDERS, 
ARTICLES OF INQUIRY, &c. 

FROM 
THE YEAR 1546 TO THE YEAR 1716; 

WITH NOTES HISTORICAL AND EXPLANATORY. 

BY 

EDWARD CARD WELL, D. D. 

PRINCIPAL OF 8T. ALBAN's HALL. 



IN TWO VOLUMES. 
VOL. L 



OXFORD, 

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. 
MDCCCXXXIX. 



^ I'Joo.ffi 




A 



^ 



d 



< 



'3 



\- 



PREFACE. 



/ rpHE laws and orders issued for the govern- 
JL merit of the reformed Church of England, 
and possessing authority to bind its members, 
may be arranged under the three heads of 
legislative, synodical, and mandatory ; the first 
consisting of acts of parliament, the second of 
decrees of s3mods confirmed by the sovereign, 
and the third of royal mandates^. It is evi- 
dent that in all these cases the assent of the 
sovereign is indispensable ; and in the language 
of law as well as of prerogative, the royal plea- 
sure has been considered as the source of all 
church authority ; and the different bodies that 
took part with the Crown in the enactment of 

a This statement is consistent with the celebrated judg- 
ment of lord Hardwicke, in which it was ruled, that the 
canons of 1603, not having been confirmed by parliament, 
do not proprio vigore bind the laity. (2 Atkyns** Rep. 650). 
For synodical and mandatory acts, in matters ecclesiastical, 
though they cannot be enforced in aU cases proprio vigore in 
courts of law, are still binding on every member of the church, 
as such, in foro conscientise. 

aS 



vi PREFACE. 

ecclesiastical laws, were looked upon as advisers 
and counsellors, to be employed in their respec- 
tive capacities according to the discretion of 
the sovereign. Thus king James I. in his 
proclamation ^ of October 1 60S, respecting the 
alleged corruptions of the Church, says, ^ We 
will proceed according to the laws and customs 
of this realm, by advice of our council, or in 
our high court of parliament, or by convocation 
of our clergy, as we shall find reason to lead 
us :" in sir Edward Coke's Reports "" it is stated, 
" Albeit the kings of England derived their 
ecclesiastical laws from others, yet so many as 
were proved, approved, and allowed here, by 
and with a general consent, are aptly and rightly 
called the king's ecclesiastical laws of England :" 
and the twelve judges^ declared in the year 
1604, that " the king, without parliament, might 
make orders and constitutions for the govern- 
ment of the clergy, and might deprive them, if 
they obeyed not*." 

^ No. CXVI. vol. ii. p. 46. 1. 36. Wilkins, Concil. vol. iv. 
p. 371. See also No. OXXXVI. vol. ii. p. 171 . note. 
^ 5 Bep. de jure Regis eccles. p. 9< 
d Oroke'« Rep. 2 Jac. p. 37. 
/ « The same fact is expressed by archbishop Wake in the 
' following manner : '' I say it is in the power of the prince to 
make laws in matters ecclesiastical : and for the doing of this 



PREFACE. vii 

Of these three classes of records the first 
must be collected by other hands, and the 
second cannot be included within the present 
undertaking. The remaining one has been 
compiled in the first instance, as bearing more 
directly upon the personal government of the 
Church, and possessing a more extensive range 
and operation than the others. Consisting, as 
it does, of specific orders, it not only comprises 
the records of its own particular class, but also, 
when taken with its natural accompaniments, 
includes the practical measures of the other 
two, and exhibits them in their outward form 
and pressure. The present volumes accord- 
ingly contain Injunctions and Ordinances from 
the Crown and the Privy Council, together 
with such letters and orders, as being issued 
by archbishops or their representatives, pos- 
sessed authority, whether direct or derivative, 
over the members of the church. Other papers 
have been added, wherever they seemed neces- 

he may advise with his clergy, and follow their counsel, so far 
as he approves of it. Thus Charles the emperor made up his 
capitular ; and thus any other sovereign prince may take the 
canons of the church and form them in such wise into an 
ecclesiastical law, as he thinks will be most for the honour of 
God and the good of his people.''^ Appeal in behalf of the 
Supremacy, p. 115. 

a 4 . 



viii PREFACE. 

sary, from the connection they had withj im- 
portant documents, or with the prominent fea- 
tures of our ecclesiastical history. So that the 
whole collection may be considered as repre- 
senting the government of the Church, when 
she has come forth from her sanctuary, and is 
dwelling visibly and authoritatively among men. 
The supremacy of the sovereign rests mainly 
upon the statute (1 Eliz. c. 1.), which " restored 
to the crown the ancient jurisdiction over the 
estate ecclesiastical and spiritual, and abolished 
all foreign powers repugnant to the same." By 
that statute it is enacted, that ** such jurisdic- 
tions, privileges, superiorities, and preeminences, 
spiritual and ecclesiastical, as by any spiritual 
or ecclesiastical power or authority have here- 
tofore been, or may lawfully be, exercised or 
used for the visitation of the ecclesiastical state 
and persons, and for reformation, order, and 
correction of the same, and of all manner of 
errors, heresies, schisms, abuses, offences, con- 
tempts, and enormities, shall for ever be united 
and annexed to the imperial crown of this 
realm." By another statute of the same period 
(1 Eliz. c. 2, §. 26.), the sovereign was empow- 
ered, with the advice of commissioners, or of 
the metropolitan, to ordain additional rites and 



PREFACE. IX 

ceremonies, to be of equal force and authority 
with those abready ordained by act of parlia- 
ment. 

It would appear from the principal act of 
queen Mary', and the statutes repealed by it, 
that the pope's jurisdiction in England was 
comprised under the five ^ following heads : 
1. He was acknowledged as chief bishop of the 
Christian church, with authority to reform and 
redress heresies, errors, and abuses within the 
same. 2. To him belonged the institution or 
confirmation of bishops elect. 8. He could 
grant to clergymen licenses of non-residence, 
and permission to hold more than one benefice. 
4. He dispensed in the canonical impediments 
of matrimony. 5. He received appeals from 
the spiritual courts. So that the supremacy 
of the crown in this respect may be summed 
up in the words of Hooker \ after the follow- 
ing manner: " There is required an univer- 
sal power which reacheth over all, importing 
supreme authority of government over all 
courts, all judges, all causes ; the operation of 
which power is as well to strengthen, main- 

^ 1 and 2 Phil, and Mary, c. 8. 

8 See Lingard, Hist. vol. v. p. 74, note. 

^ Eccles. Pol. vol. iii. part i. p. 543. 



X PREFACE. 

tain, and uphold particular jurisdictions, which 
haply might else be of small effect, as also 
to remedy that which they are not able to 
help, and to redress that wherein they at any 
time do otherwise than they ought to do. 
This power being sometime in the bishop of 
Rome, who by sinister practices had drawn it 
; into his hands, was for just considerations by 
\ public consent annexed unto the king's royal 

■seat and crown Our laws have provided that 

the king's supereminent authority and power 
shall serve : as namely, when the whole eccle- 
siastical state, or the principal persons therein, 
do need visitation and reformation: when in 
any part of the church errors, heresies, schisms, 
abuses, offences, contempts, enormities, are 
grown, which men in their several jurisdictions 
either do not or cannot help : whatsoever any 
spiritual authority or power (such as legates 
from the see of Rome did sometimes exercise) 
hath done or might heretofore have done for 
the remedy of those evils in lawful sort (that is 
to say, without the violation of the law of God 
or nature in the deed done), as much in every 
degree our laws have fully granted that the 
king for ever may do, not only by setting eccle- 
siastical synods on work, that the thing may be 



PBEFAOE. xi 

Uieir act and the king their motion unto it, but 
by commissioners few or many, who having the 
king's letters patents, may in the virtue thereof 
execute the premises as agents in the right, not 
of their own peculiar and ordinary, but of his 
supereminent power." 

Large however, as is the field allowed by the 
statute for the exercise of the supremacy, its 
boundary is made more indistinct and at last 
vanishes in the distance, when we include 
within it the further range that was claimed 
and recognised at different periods of our his- 
tory, under the title of the king's prerogative. 
It was decided in the well known case of 
CawdryS that the act of supremacy (1 Eliz. 
c. 1.) " was not a statute introductory of a new 
law, but declaratory of the old;" and that if it 
had never been enacted, " the king or queen of 
England might make such a commission as is 
there provided, by the ancient prerogative and 
law of England." So that independently of the 
powers acknowledged in the statute, there was 
yet in reserve within the capacious bosom of 
the common law an undefined authority, which, 
being similar in its character, might also be 

' Coke's fifth Report, p. 8. 



\ 



xii PREFACE. 

{ equal in its amount ^ to the omnipotence of 

^ Rome. 

But there was one power conveyed by the 
statute that brought the supremacy of the 
crown into constant and daily contact with the 
people, and has therefore become a kind of 
epitome in which the history of its progress 
may most conveniently be read. It was enacted 
that the sovereign might appoint commissioners 
to exercise all manner of ecclesiastical juris- 
diction, and to *^ visit, reform, redress, order, 
correct and amend, all such errors, heresies, 
schisms, abuses, offences, contempts and enor- 



k The royal supremacy was frequently asserted in its ut- 
most extent by queen Elizabeth ; as for instance in the fol- 
lowing answer to a petition from the house of conunons con- 
cerning reformation of discipline in the church, an. 1575. 
'' Her majesty before the parliament had a care to provide 
in that case of her own disposition ; and at the beginning of 
the session she had conference therein with some of the 
bishops, and gave them in charge to see due reformation ; 
and if they should neglect or omit their duties therein, her 
majesty by her supreme power and authority over the church 
of England, would speedily see such good redress therein, as 
might satisfy the expectations of her loving subjects.*" D'Ewes' 
Journal, p. 267. This answer was " most 'thankfully and joy- 
fully received by the whole house with one accord.*" The royal 
supremacy, whatever may be the extent of it, has since that 
time been often recognized and reserved in acts of parliament ; 
as for instance, in the Conventicle Act, 22 Car. II. cap. 1 . 
§.18. 



PREFACE. xiii 

mities whatsoever, which by any manner of 
^spiritual or ecclesiastical power, authority or 
jurisdiction, can or may lawfully be reformed, 
ordered, redressed, corrected, restrained or 
amended." 

With the exercise of this power, and with 
its natural consequences, were connected many 
of the civil grievances, and almost all the eccle- 
siastical contests, which, though treated with a 
bold and masculine defiance by the government 
of queen Elizabeth, were continually acquiring 
strength and system under the more feeble 
sway of her successors, and ultimately issued in 
the downfal of the house of Stuart, and the 
strict limitation of the prerogative. 

The court of high commission, as established 
by queen Elizabeth in the first year of her 
reign, was constructed, with such variations 
only as the circumstances of the case required, 
after the plan adopted by her predecessor'; 
who, although the same kind of commission 
had not been unknown in the reign of her 
brother Edward", had found a more effective 
model for it in the practice of the inquisition, 
and the tender mercies of her Spanish consort. 

J Seo No. XLV ♦. vol. i. p. 223, note, 
m See No. XXV. vol. i. p. 91 . 



xiv PBEFAOE. 

Large and indefinite in their description, the 
powers with which the court was provided 
were soon found to be weapons difficult to be 
wielded and easily eluded ; and during the 
time of the two first protestant primates, Parker 
and Grindal,the court derived its efficiency more 
from the stern interference of the queen, than 
from the exactness of its own regulations or 
the energy of its judges. In the meantime it 
bad already given rise to objections, and pro- 
voked an extent of opposition, which called for 
some immediate and decisive change in its 
proceedings. But a primate was then ap- 
pointed, who was equal to the emergency, and 
with the support of his sovereign was ready 
and desirous to engage in it. In the year 1583, 
the first year of the primacy of archbishop 
Whitgift, a new commission'' was issued, con- 
taining express authority for administering the 
oath ^^ ex officio" to the prisoner ; and the court 
was provided with a series of questions, from 
whose scrutiny, at once minute and compre- 
hensive, he could not possibly escape. The 
archbishop had seen the opposition prepared 
for him, and boldly came forth in person as 

n See No. CXLVI. vol. ii. p. 217, note. 



PREFACE. XV 

the assailant; and though lord Burghley re- 
monstrated against his interrogatories, and 
other members of the council were known to 
be favourable to the non-conformists, he had 
the cordial support of the queen, and his mea- 
sures were successful. And this was the first 
instance in which the authority of the church, 
so recently established, was brought to a trial 
of its strength, and in this instance every ex- 
ternal circumstance was in its favour. 

We might reasonably expect, as well from 
this example of success, as from the natural 
conditions of the case, that the other great 
epochs in the history of ecclesiastical jurisdic- 
tion would be found in the times of able and 
resolute Primates. And such were Bancroft 
and Laud, fitly compared with Whitgift in the 
extent of their learning and the firmness of 
their character, but thrown, and especially the 
latter of them, upon periods of much greater 
peril, and engaged in the cause of masters 
much less powerful to protect them. 

Many were the devices by which in process 
of time it was sought to break the authority or 
to evade the sentence of this formidable court. 
It had inflicted the punishment of deprivation 
upon Clergymen for refusing to observe the 



xvi PREFACE. 

Order of the Common Prayer ; and these de- 
cisions were called into question, as a different 
penalty was imposed upon the offence by the 
Act of Uniformity. But it had been determined 
in the case of Cawdry** that the ecclesiastical 
supremacy was appertenant to the Crown in- 
dependently of acts of parliament ; and the 
question itself was decided ^ by the twelve 
judges in the year 1604 in favour of the court. 
The most dangerous resistance it met with was, 
when the prisoner refused to take the oath 
" ex officio" on the ground of its illegality, or 
suspended the judicial proceedings by obtain- 
ing a prohibition from the courts of common 
law. Were these two points surrendered, the 
citadel would be lost ; and archbishop Bancroft, 
though eminently qualified by his knowledge 
and intrepidity to defend them, had to encoun- 
ter an antagonist in the person of sir Edward 
Coke, who to the same great qualities of cha- 
racter united a more reasonable cause, and the 
most powerful supporters. In these vital ques- 
tions "* the Primate was signally defeated. The 
next commission, drawn up by the chief justice 
himself, took away the penalties which had 

*» Coke's fifth Report, p. 8. p Oroke s Rep. 2 Jac. p. 87. 
q See No. CXXIII. vol ii. p. 82, note. 



PiREPACE. xvii 

hitherto made the questionable oath effective, 
and the king was compelled to declare in 
council on the decision of the judges that the 
dreaded prohibitions must have their course. 

King Charles I. appears to have obtained 
from the influence of archbishop Laud a more 
just conception ' of the Church in its relation 
to the State than had been formed by either of 
the sovereigns who immediately preceded him. 
The same countenance which they conferred 
upon the court of high commission for the 
purpose of supporting the prerogative, he will- 
ingly bestowed upon it for the protection of 
the Church. In the commission " accordingly, 
which was issued in the year 1687, was intro- 
duced the ancient power of administering the 
oath " ex officio,*' together with a penalty de- 
signed to render it effectual, should the prisoner 
still refuse to answer. It is impossible to sup- 
pose, though there are many indications in its 
favour, that the king and his councillor were 
equally unconscious of the extreme perils by 
which they were surrounded. Living in the 
delusive atmosphere of a court, they still could 
not be insensible to the dark and chilling 

' See No. CXXXVI. vol. ii. p. 172, note. 
' See No. CXLVI. vol. ii. p. 217. 

b 



xviii PEEFAOE. 

masses of discontent, which lay heavily before 
them, in whatever direction they proceeded* 
And yet at this conjuncture they revived a 
practice, which was odious in its nature and 
had been decktred by the highest authority to 
be* illegal, for the purpose of supporting an 
institution already perishing from its own de- 
crepitude. Doubtless it was received by the 
rebellious spirits whom it was designed to sub- 
due, with no other feeling than that of savage 
exultation. Within a few years afterwards the 
king was compelled to consent to an acf* which 
swept away the authority of the high commis- 
sion court, and shook to its foundations the 
whole jurisdiction of the Church. 

The court of high commission, though le- 
gally extinct, had still one other epoch in its 
history. King James II. under the evil advice 
of popish councillors was induced to reestablish 
it % with a title somewhat different, but with 
powers equally objectionable : and the bishop 
of London was summoned before it to answer 
for an act of disobedience to the royal pleasure. 
The king probably was of opinion that his pre- 
rogative was too sacred to be affected by recent 

« See vol. ii. p. 219. 1. 20. « 16 Charles I. c. 11. 

^ See vol. ii. p. 308. 1. 26. 



PREFACE. XIX 

statutes, and that the supremacy of the Crown 
was beyond the reach of subjects and their 
legislatures. On the same principle accordingly 
he not only dispensed with the execution of 
laws in individual cases, a privilege, which in 
more careful hands would have continued to 
be undisputed, but he also destroyed the vi- 
tality of the laws themselves by suspending 
them in the whole compass of their operation. 
The sequel is well known. On the revolution 
effected by king William, the bill of rights 
declared that the court of high commission, 
under whatever form or title, was illegal and 
pernicious ; and the principles of government 
that were established at the same period, have 
set their seal to its perpetual condemnation. 

During the progress of this history and more 
especially on the accomplishment of the great 
revolution which has last been noticed, it is 
evident that clearer and more narrow lines of 
demarcation had been gradually drawn around 
the king's prerogative. The court of high 
commission has been abolished ; and together 
with it has been abolished the power of grant- 
ing dispensations^ in any case where it has not 
been expressly reserved by statute. The claims 

y See vol. li. p. 816, note. 
bSI 



XX PREFACE. 

Of the prerogative are now to be interpreted in 
every instance through the language of the law. 
But the supremacy of the Crown, though crip- 
pled in the way of evil, is still powerful and 
supereminent for purposes of correction and 
improvement. " It is neither permitted to 
prelate nor prince/' says Hooker', " to judge 
and determine at their own discretion, but law 
hath prescribed what both shall do. What 
power the king hath, he hath it by law ; the 
bounds and limits of it are known. The entire 
community giveth general order by law how all 
things publicly are to be done; and the king as 
head thereof, the highest in authority over all, 
causeth according to the same law every par- 
ticular to be framed and ordered thereby."... 
" All men are not for all things sufficient ; and 
therefore public affairs being divided, such per- 
sons must be authorized judges in each kind, as 
common reason may presume to be most fit : 
which cannot of kings and princes ordinarily 
be presumed in causes merely ecclesiastical ; so 
that even common sense doth rather adjudge 
this burden unto other men. We see it hereby 
a thing necessary to put a diflference, as well 
between that ordinary jurisdiction which be- 

* Ecdes. Pol. vol. iii. P. i. pp. 655 and 54 9. 



PREFACE. xxi 

longeth to the clergy alone, and that commis- 
sionary wherein others are for just considerations 
appointed to join with them ; as also between 
both these jurisdictions, and a third, whereby 
the king hath a transcendent authority, and 
that in all cases, over both," 

In a publication professing to illustrate the 
general history of the Church, and to be appli- 
cable in their several relations to all its members, 
papers of a local or partial interest could not 
properly be admitted. But there are cases, 
when particular instructions, apparently the 
most limited, are calculated, from the nature of 
their subject, to be the best exponents of some 
prevailing controversy, or may be employed as 
substitutes for more general documents, which 
cannot themselves be obtained. It is for these 
reasons that such papers as Nos. CXXXVII and 
CXLIII % though provided, the one for a given 

» The orders issued by bishop Wren are the best repre- 
sentation remaining of the sentiments entertained on such 
subjects by archbishop Laud. It appears from the registers 
at Lambeth, that though the archbishop sent out many 
articles and orders for the cathedrals of his province, he did 
not issue any such directions for the parochial clergy gene- 
rally, but employed his vicar-general and the dean [of the 
arches to visit the several dioceses; and that orders were 
given in each particular case, as circumstances required 
There are orders, for instance, given at Boston, in Lincoln, 
shire, which enter minutely into detail as to the paving, 
pewing, and other repairs of the parish church. 



xxii PREFACE. 

diocese, and the other for a single congregation, 
may be considered as addressed to the Church 
at large, acquiring accordingly a range and 
importance, which would not otherwise belong 
to them. 

The coUection has been made principally 
from the Concilia of Wilkins, revised and cor- 
rected in many instances by a comparison with 
original documents. Other papers have been 
added, as they seemed to be of sufficient import- 
ance, and could be obtained from authentic 
sources. In the titles prefixed by Wilkins, and 
here copied from him, his notation of time has 
been retained, the year being made to com- 
mence, according to the ancient custom of the 
Churchy from the 25th day of March. In the 
notes however the modem method of comput- 
ing from the 1st of January has been constantly 
followed. All papers connected exclusively 
with the construction or revision of the Book 
of Common Prayer have been purposely omitted ; 
as they are sufficient both in number and con- 
sequence to form a separate publication. 

A record also of past events, sometimes pro- 
ceeding to a great degree of minuteness, could 
not be generally useful, unless it were accom- 
panied by a copious Index. It is hoped that in 
the present instance the Table of Contents 



PEEPAOE. xxiii 

and the Index combined, will afford every 
assistance of that nature, which can reasonably 
be required. The Index is partly verbal, and 
partly descriptive of subject-matter; and the 
Titles given in the Table of Contents are so far 
in accordance with the ancient headings, as to 
be easily identified with them, and yet have 
been made to afford in many instances a better 
insight into the documents which it is their 
object to describe. 

It will be observed that in some papers the 
old and capricious mode of spelling has been 
retained ; in others it has been reduced to rule 
and modern practice. The best method of 
editing ancient documents is to print them 
exactly as they were first published; but in 
these papers .that could not be done in every 
instance, as some of them had already been 
modernized by other hands, and it would be 
either impossible, or at the least a waste of time 
and labour, to find the originals and to take 
fresh copies from them for the purpose of re- 
storing their mistakes and archaisms. There 
are some cases also, as at p. 226. 1. 25. vol. I. 
in which it may be thought that manifest errors 
have been republished, without any endeavour 
to remove them. But in that instance as in 



XXIV PREFACE. 

others**, the passage has been printed exactly 
after the MS. in the Tanner papers, it being 
thought better to leave the correction of it to 
the judgment of the reader, than to amend it 
by any conjecture however plausible. 

The notes, where they are not simply quota- 
tions from other authors, have been compiled, 
as much as possible, from the best sources of 
information, with the view of accounting for the 
first publication of the papers respectively, and 
in some cases of recording the rise and progress 
of a passing controversy. They will not be 
found to advocate extreme opinions ; but they 
are indebted in many instances, for remarks as 
well as for suggestions, to writers of strong and 
opposite predilections, to Burnet as well as 
Strype, to Prynne as well as Clarendon, to 
Neal as well as Collier, to Hallam as well as 
Lingard. 

b See vol. i. p. 110. 1. 34. 



COLLECTION 



or 



INJUNCTIONS, DECLARATIONS, 

ORDERS, &c. 



I. 

Papc Rom. Archiepitc Cant. Anno Chriati. I^g. An^iv. 

Paul. III. la. Tno. Cranmeb. 15. 1546. EowAmo. VI. 1. 

Commissw regia archiepiscopo Canttiar. ad esercendam 
suam juri^dictionem. — Ex reg. Cranmer, fol. 28. b. 

pDWARDUS sextus Dei gratia Angliae, Franciae et 

Hibemiae rex, fidei defensor, ac in terra ecclesiae 

Anglicanae et Hibemiae supremum caput, reverendissimo 

Commissio regia] " The bishops were required to take out new com- 
5 misaipns of the same form with those they had taken out in king Henry's 
time ; only with this difference, that there is no mention made of a 
vicar-general in these commissions, as was in the former, there being 
none after Cromwell advanced to that dignity. Two of these commis- 
sions are yet extant ; one taken out by Cranmer, and the other taken 

10 out by Bonner. But this was only done by reason of the present junc« 
tore, because the bishops being generally addicted to the former su- 
perstition, it was thought necessary to keep them under so arbitrary 
a power, as ^hat subjected them to ; for they hereby held their bi- 
shopricks oily during the king's pleasure, and were to exercise them 

15 as his delegates in hb name and by his authority. . . . But this was 
afterwards judged too heavy a yoke ; and therefore the new bishops 
that were made by this king were not put under it ... . but they were 
to hold their bishoprics during life." Burnet. Hist. Ref. v. ii. p. 10. ed. 
Oxf. 1829. See also Strype Cranm. v. i. p. 141. ed. Oxf. 1812. 
10 Collier Eccl. Hist. v. ii. p. 218. fol. Lond. 1714. 

VOL. I. B 



2 Commism regia archiepiscopo Cantuari^rui. [I. 

in Christo patri ac praedilecto consiliario nostro Thomae 
Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, salutem. Quandoquidem 
omnis jurisdicendi auctoritas atque etiam jurisdictio om- 
nimoda, tarn ilia quae ecclesiastica dicitur, quam secularis, 
a regia potestate velut a supremo capite, ac omnium ma- 5 
gistratuum infra regnum nostrum fonte et scaturigine 
primitus emanaverit ; sane illos qui jurisdictione hujusce- 
modi antehaCf non nisi precario fungebantur, beneficium 
hujuscemodi sit eis ex liberalitate regia indultum gratis 
animis agnoscere, idque regiae munificentiae solummodo 10 
acceptum referre, eique quoties ejus majestati videbitur 
cedere convenit: nos tuis in hac parte supplicationibus 
humilibus inclinati, et nostrorum subditorum commodis 
consulere cupientes, tibi vices nostras, sub modo et forma 
inferius descriptis, committendas fore, teque licentiandum 15 
esse decrevimus. Ad ordinandos igitur quoscunque infru 
dioecesim tuam Cantuarien. ubicunque oriundos, quos 
moribus et litteratura, praevio diligenti et rigoroso exa- 
mine, idoneos fore comperis, ac ad omnes etiam sacros et 
presbyteratus ordines promovend. praesentatosque ad be- w 
neficia ecclesiastica quaecunque infru dioecesim tuam Can- 
tuarien. constituta, si ad curam beneficiis hujuscemodi 
imminentem sustinend. habiles reperti fuerint et idonei, 
et non aliter, admittend. ac in et de eisdem instituend. et 
investiend. ac etiam, si res ita exigat, destituend. benefi- 25 
ciaque ecclesiastica quaecunque, ad tuam collationem sive 
dispositionem' spectantia et pertinentia, personis idoneis 
conferend. atque approband. testamenta et ultimas volun- 
tates, nee non administrationes committendas bononmi 
quorumcunque subditorum nostrorum ab intestate dece- 30 
dentium bona, jura, sive credita in diversis dioecesibus 
sive jurisdictionibus aut alibi, juxta consuetudinem curiae 
praerogativae Cantuarien. vitae et mortis suarum tempore 
habentium calculum et ratiocinium, et alia in ea parte 
expediend. testamentaque et administrationes quorum. 35 
cunque tuae dioeceseos ut prius approband. et commit. 



'547-1 Cammiisio regia archiepiscopo Cantuari&mi. 3 

tend, causasque lites et negotia coram te aut coram tuis 
deputatis pendentia indecisas, nee non alias sive alia 
quascunque sive quaecmique ad forum ecclesiasticum per- 
tinentia, ad te aut tuos deputatos sive deputandos per 

5 viam querelas aut appellationis devolvendae sive dedu- 
cendae, quae citra legum nostrarum et statutorum regni 
nostri offensionem coram te aut tuis deputatis agitari, aut 
ad tuam sive alicujus commissariorum per te, vigore hujus 
commissionis nostras deputandorum, cognitione devolvi 

10 aut deduci valeant et possint, examinandi et decidendi, 
caeteraque omnia et singula, in praemissis sen circa ea 
necessaria sen quomodolibet opportuna, praeter et ultra ea 
quae tibi ex sacris literis divinitus commissa esse di- 
noscuntur, vice, nomine et auctoritate nostris exequendi, 

•5 tibi, de cujus sana doctrina, conscientiae puritate, vitaeque 
et morum integritate, ac in rebus gerendis fide et in- 
dustria plurimum confidimus, vices nostras cum potestate 
alium vel alios* commissarium vel commissaries ad prae- 
missa vel eorum aliqua surrogandi et substituendi, eos- 

io deraque ad placitum revocandi, tenore praesentium com- 
raittimus, ac liberam facultatem concedimus, teque licen- 
tiamus per praesentes ad nostrum beneplacitum duntaxat 
duraturas, cum cujuslibet congruae et ecclesiasticae coer- 
tionis potestate, quacunque inhibitione ante dationem 

^ praesentium emanata in aliquo non obstante ; tuam con- 
scientiam coram Deo strictissime onerantes, et ut summo 
omnium judici aliquando rationem reddere, et coram 
nobis tuo sub periculo corporali respondere intendis, te 
admonentes, ut interim tuum officium juxta evangelii 

30 normam pie et sancte exercere studeas, et ne quern ullo 
tempore unquam ad sacros ordines promoveas, vel ad 
coram anlmarum gerendam quo vis mode admittas, nisi 
eos duntaxat quos et tanti et tam venerabilis officii func- 
tionem, vitae et morum integritas, certissimis testimoniis 

35 approbata, literarum scientia et aliae qualitates requisitae 
ad hoc habiles et idoneos clare et luculenter ostenderint 

B 2 



4 Injunctums given by Edward VI. [II. 

et declaraverint : nam ut maxime compertum cognitum- 
que habemus, morum omnium et maxime christianae reli- 
gionis corruptelam a malis pastoribus in populum ema- 
nasse, sic et veram Christi religionem, vitaeque et morum 
emendationem a bonis pastoribus iterum delectis et as-s 
sumptis in integrum restitutum iri hand dubie speramus. 
In cujus rei testimonium praesentes literas nostras inde 
fieri, et sigilli nostri, quo ad causas ecclesiasticas utimur, 
appensione jussimus communiri. Dat. septimo die mensis 
Februarii, anno Domini 1546. et regni nostri anno prime. lo 



11. 

PaiMB Rom. Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi. Reg. Angliie. 

Paul. III. 13. Tho. Cranmeh. 15. i547* Edward. VI. 1. 

Injunctions given by the most ejcceUent prince Edward the 
SiMhy by the grace of God^ king of England^ France 
and Ireland^ defender of the faiths and in earth under 
Christy of the church of England and Irelandy the su- 
preme head. To all and singular his loving subjects^ as 
well of the clergy as of the laity. 

nPHE king's most royal majesty, by the advice of his 

most dear uncle the duke of Somerset, lord protector 

of all his realms, dominions and subjects, and governor of 

his most royal person, and residue of his most honourable 

Injunctions given] " In the act of parliament which Henry had pro- 15 
cured for giving force and authority to his proclamations, (3 1 Hen. VIII. 
c. 8.) a proviso was added that his son's counciUors, while he should 
be under age, might set out proclamations of the same authority with 
those which were made by the king himself. This gave them a full 
power to proceed in that work ; in which they resolved to follow the 20 
method begun by the late king, of sending visitors over England with 
injunctions and articles... They next considered the articles and in- 
junctions that should be given to the visitors. The greatest part of 
them were only the renewing what had been ordered by king Henry 



'54^0 Injunctions given by Edtcard VI. 5 

council, intending the advancement of the true honour of 
Almighty God, the suppression of idolatry and supersti- 
tion throughout all his realms and dominions, and to 
plant true religion, to the extirpation of all hypocrisy, 

5 enormities and abuses, as to his duty appertaineth ; doth 
minister unto his loving subjects these godly injunctions 
hereafter following ; whereof part were given unto them 
heretofore, by the authority of his most dear beloved 
father, king Henry the Eighth, of most famous memory, 

10 and part are now ministered and given by his majesty : 
all which injunctions his highness \\illeth and com- 
roandeth his said loving subjects, by his supreme author- 
ity, obediently to receive, and truly to observe and keep, 
every man in their offices, degrees and states, as they will 

15 avoid his displeasure, and the pains in the same injunc- 
tions hereafter expressed. 

1. The first is, that all deans, archdeacons, parsons, 
vicars, and other ecclesiastical persons, shall faithftiUy 
keep and observe, and, as far as in them may lie, shall 

JO cause to be kept and observed of other, all and singular 
laws and statutes, made as well for the abolishing and 
extirpation of the bishop of Rome, his pretensed and 
usurped power and jurisdiction, as for the establishment 
and confirmation of the king's authority, jurisdiction, and 

H supremacy of the church of England and Ireland. And 
furthermore, all ecclesiastical persons, having cure of 
souls, shall, to the uttermost of their wit, knowledge, and 
learning, purely, sincerely, and without any colour or dis- 
simulation, declare, manifest and open four times every 

30 year at the least, in their sermons and other collations, 

daring Cromweirs being vicegerent." Burnet, H. R. v. ii. pp. 52. 56. 
Sec also Strype Cranm. v. i. p. 207. Lingard, v. iv. p. 384. ed. 4to. 
Collier, v. ii. p. 225. The more correct account of the matter appears 
to be that the council acted under the authority of king Henry's will, 
35 which had been made according to the powers given to him by 
Btatntes 28 Henry VIH. c. 7. and 35 Henry VHI. c. i. 

b3 



6 Injutictmis given by Hdtcard VI, [II. 

that the bishop of Rome's usurped power and jurisdiction, 
having no establishment nor ground by the laws of God, 
was of most just causes taken away and abolished ; and 
that therefore no manner of obedience or subjection, 
within his realms and dominions, is due unto him. And 5 
that the king's power, within his realms and dominions, is 
the highest power under God, to whom all men, within 
the same realms and dominions, by God's laws, owe most 
loyalty and obedience, afore and above all other powers 
and potentates in earth. 10 

Besides this, to the intent that all superstition and hy- 
pocrisy crept into divers men's hearts, may vanish away ; 
they shall not set forth or extol any images, relics, or 
miracles, for any superstition or lucre, nor allure the 
people by any enticements to the pilgrimage of any 15 
saint or image : but reproving the same, they shall teach, 
that all goodness, health and grace, ought to be both 
asked and looked for only of God, as of the very author 
and giver of the same, and of none other. 

Item, That they the persons above rehearsed, shall » 
make or cause to be made in their chiuxjhes, and every 
other cure they have, one sermon every quarter of the 
year at the least, wherein they shall purely and sincerely 
declare the word of God : and in the same, exhort their 
hearers to the works of fiiith, mercy, and charity, spe- 25 
cially prescribed and commanded in scripture ; and that 
works devised by men's fantasies, besides scripture, as 
wandering to pilgrimages, offering of money, candles, or 
tapers, or relics, or images, or kissing and licking of the 
same, praying upon beads, or such like superstition, have 30 
not only no promise of reward in scripture for doing 
of them, but contrariwise, great threats, and maledic- 
tions of God, for that they be things tending to idolatry 
and superstition, which of all other offences God Al- 
mighty doth most detest and abhor, for that the same^s 
diminish most his honour and glory. 



^547*] Injunctions given by Edioard VI. 7 

Item, That such images as they kuow in any of their 
cures to be or to have been abused with pilgrimage or 
offering of any thing made thereunto, or shall be here- 
after censed unto, they (and none other private persons) 

5 shall for the avoiding of that most detestable offence of 
idolatry, forthwith take down, or cause to be taken down 
and destroy the same ; and shall suffer from henceforth 
no torches nor candles, tapers or images of wax to be set 
afore any image or picture, but only two lights upon the 

'0 high altar, before the sacrament, which for the significa- 
tion that Christ is the very true light of the world, they 
shall suffer to remain still : admonishing their parishion- 
ers, that images serve for no other purpose but to be a 
remembrance, whereby men may be admonished of the 

>5 holy lives and conversation of them that the said images 
do represent: which images if they do abuse for any 
other intent, they commit idolatry in the same, to the 
great danger of their souls. 

Item, That every holy-day throughout the year, when 

Mthey have no sermon, they shall immediately aflber the 
Gospel, openly and plainly recite to their parishioners in 
the pulpit, the " Pater noster," the " Credo," and the Ten 
Commandments in English, to the intent the people may 
learn the same by heart: exhorting all parents and 

>5 householders to teach their children and servants the 
same, as they are bound by the law of God, and in 
conscience to do. 

Item, That they shall charge fathers and mothers, 
masters and governors, to bestow their children and 

30 servants, even from their childhood, either to learning or 
to some honest exercise, occupation, or husbandry : ex- 
horting and coimselling, and by all the w^ays and means 
they may, as well in their sermons and collations, as 
otherwise, persuading their said fathers and mothers, 

^masters and other governors, diligently to provide and 
foresee that the youth be in no manner or wise brought 

B 4 



8 Injunctions given by Edward VI. [IL 

up in idleness, lest at any time afterward for lack of some 
craft, occupation, or other honest means to live by, they 
be driven to fall to begging, stealing, or some other un- 
thriftiness : forasmuch as we may daily see, through sloth 
and idleness, divers valiant men &11, some to begging, 5 
and some to theft and murder ; which after brought to 
calamity and misery, do blame their parents, friends, and 
governors, which suffered them to be brought up so idly 
in their youth, where if they had been well brought up in 
learning some good occupation, or craft, they would «<> 
(being rulers of their own household) have profited as 
well themselves, as divers other persons, to the great 
commodity and ornament of the commonwealth. 

Also, That the said parsons, vicars, and other curates 
shall diligently provide, that the sacraments be duly and 'S 
reverently ministered in their parishes. And if at any 
time it happen them in any of the cases expressed in the 
statutes of this realm, or of special license given by the 
king's majesty, to be absent from their benefices, they 
shall leave their cure not to a rude and unlearned person, ^ 
but to an honest, well learned, and expert curate, that 
can by his ability teach the rude and imleamed of their 
pure wholesome doctrine, and reduce them to the right 
way that do err ; which will also execute these injunc- 
tions, and do their duty otherwise, as they are bound to «5 
do in every behalf, and accordingly may and will profit 
their cure no less with good example of living, than with 
the declaration of the word of God, or else their lack and 
default shall be imputed unto them, who shall straitly 
answer for the same if they do otherwise. And always 3© 
let them see, that neither they nor their curates do seek 
more their own profit, promotion, or advantage, than the 
profit of the souls they have under their cure, or the 
glory of God. 

Also, That they shall provide within three months 35 
next after this visitation, one book of the whole Bible, of 



^5470 Injundums given by Edward VI. 9 

the largest volume in English. And within one twelve 
months next after the said visitation, the " Paraphrasis" 
of Erasmus also in English upon the Gospels, and the 
same set up in some convenient place within the said 

5 church that they have cure of, whereas their parishioners 
may most commodiously resort unto the same, and read 
the same. The charges of which books shall be ratably 
borne between the parson and approprietary, and pa- 
rishioners aforesaid, that is to say, the one half by the 

10 parson or proprietary, and the other half by the pa- 
rishioners. And they shall discourage no man (authorized 
and licensed thereto) from the reading any part of the 
Bible, either in Latin or in English ; but shall rather 
comfort and exhort every person to read the same, as the 

15 very lively word of God, and the special food of man's 
soul, that all Christian persons are bound to embrace, 
believe, and follow, if they look to be saved : whereby 
they may the better know their duties to God, to their 
sovereign lord the king, and their neighbour ; ever gently 

30 and charitably exhorting them, and in his majesty's name, 

straitly charging and commanding them, that in the 

reading thereof, no man to reason or contend, but quietly 

to hear the reader. 

Also, The said ecclesiastical persons shall in no wise, 

15 at any unlawful time, nor for any other cause than for 
their honest necessity, haunt or resort to any taverns or 
alehouses. And after their dinner or supper, they shall 
not give themselves to drinking or riot, spending their 
time idly, by day or by night, at dice, cards, or tables, 

30 playing, or any other unlawful game : but at all times (as 
they shall have leisure) they shall hear and read some- 
what of holy scripture, or shall occupy themselves with 
some other honest exercise ; and that they always do the 
things which appertain to honesty, with endeavour to 

j5 profit the commonweal; having always in mind, that 
they ought to excel all other in purity of life, and 



10 Injunctions given by Bdtcard VI. [II. 

should be an example to the people to live well and 
Christianly. 

Item, That they shall in confessions every Lent exa- 
mine every person that cometh to confession to them, 
whether they can recite the articles of their fiiith, the 5 
" Pater noster," and the Ten Commandments in English, 
and hear them say the same particularly; wherein if 
they be not perfect, they shall declare then, that every 
Christian person ought to know the said things before 
they should receive the blessed Sacrament of the altar, lo 
and admonish them to learn the said necessary things 
more perfectly, or else they ought not to presume to 
come te God's board, without a perfect knowledge and 
will to observe the same : and if they do, it is to the 
great peril of their souls, and also to the worldly "5 
rebuke, that they might incur hereafter by the same. 

Also, That they shall admit no man to preach within 
any their cures, but such as shall appear unte them to 
be suflSciently licensed thereunto, by the king's majesty, 
the lord protector's grace, the archbishop of Canterbury, ao 
the archbishop of York in his province, or the bishop of 
the diocess ; and such as shall be so licensed, they shall 
gladly receive to declare the word of God, without any 
resistance or contradiction. 

Also, If they have heretofore declared to their ts 
parishioners any thing to the extolling or setting forth 
of pilgrimages, relics, or images, or lighting of candles, 
kissing, kneeling, decking of the same images, or any 
such superstition, they shall now openly, before the 
same, recant, and reprove the same : shewing them (as jo 
the truth is) that they did the same upon no ground of 
scripture, but were led and seduced by a common error 
and abuse, crept into the church through the sufferance 
and avarice of such as felt profit by the same. 

Also, If they do, or shall know any man within their 35 
parish or elsewhere,. that is a letter of the word of Grod 



1547 -] In/unetums given bjf Edward VI. 1 1 

to be read in English, or sincerely preached, or of the 
execution of these the king's majesty's injunctions, or 
a fautor of the bishop of Rome's pretensed power, now 
by the laws of this realm justly rejected, extirpated, and 

5 taken away utterly, they shall detect and present the 
same to the king or his council, or to the justice of 
peace next adjoining. 

Also, That the parson, vicar, or curate, and parishioners 
of every parish within this realm, shall, in their churches 

loand chapels, keep one book or register, wherein they 
shall write the day and year of every wedding, christen- 
ing, and burial, made within their parish for their time, 
and so every man succeeding them likewise ; and therein 
shall write every person's name that shall be so wedded, 

15 christened, or buried. And for the safe keeping of the 
same book, the parish shall be bound to provide of their 
common charges, one sure coffer, with two locks and 
keys, whereof the one to remain with the parson, vicar, 
or curate, and the other with the wardens of every 

10 parish church or chapel, wherein the said book shall be 
laid up : which book they shall every Sunday take forth, 
and in the presence of the said wardens, or one of them, 
write and record in the same, all the weddings, christen- 
ings, and burials, made the whole week before ; and that 

35 done, to lay up the book in the said coffer, as afore. 
And for every time that the same shall be omitted, the 
party that shall be in the fault thereof, shall forfeit to 
the said church, iii^. xsd. to be "employed to the poor 
men's box of that parish. 

30 Furthermore, because the goods of the church are 
called the goods of the poor, and at these days nothing 
is less seen than the poor to be sustained with the same ; 
all parsons, vicars, pensionaries, prebendaries, and other 
beneficed men within this deanery, not being resident 

35 upon their benefices, which may dispend yearly xx/. or 
above, either within this deanery, or elsewhere, shall 



12 Injunctions given ly Edward VL [II. 

distribute hereafter among their poor parishioners^ or 
other inhabitants there, in the presence of the church- 
wardens, or some other honest men of the parish, the 
xl. part of the fruits and revenues of their said benefices, 
lest they be worthily noted of ingratitude, which re-s 
serving so many parts to themselves, cannot vouchsafe 
to impart the xl. portion thereof among the poor people 
of that parish, that is so fruitful and profitable unto them. 

And to the intent that learned men may hereaft;er 
spring the more, for the execution of the premises, every lo 
parson, vicar, clerk, or beneficed man within this deanery, 
having yearly to dispend in benefices and other pro- 
motions of the church an c/. shall give competent exhi- 
bition to one scholar : and for so many c/. more as he 
may dispend, to so many scholars more shall he give like 15 
exhibition in the university of Oxford or Cambridge, or 
some grammar-school ; which after they have profited in 
good learning, may be partners of their patrons' cure and 
charge, as well in preaching, as otherwise, in the execu- 
tion of their offices, or may (when need shall be) other- 10 
wise profit the commonweal with their council and 
wisdom. 

Also, That the proprietaries, parsons, vicars, and 
clerks, having churches, chapels, or mansions within this 
deanery, shall bestow yearly hereafter upon the same as 
mansions or chancels of their churches being in decay, 
the fifth part of that their benefices, till they be ftilly 
repaired; and the same so repaired, shall alwajns keep 
and maintain in good estate. 

Also, That the said parsons, vicars, and clerks, shall, 30 
once every quarter of the year, read these injunctions 
given unto them, openly and deliberately, before all their 
parishioners, to the intent that both they may be the 
better admonished of their duty, and their said pa- 
rishioners the more moved to follow the same for their 35 
part. 



'5470 Injunctions ffiven by Edward VL IS 

Also, Forasmuch as by a law established, every man 
is bound to pay his tithes, no man shall by colour of 
duty omitted by their curates, detain their tithes, and so 
redub and requite one wrong with another, or be his 

5 own judge, but shall truly pay the same, as he hath been 
accustomed, to their parsons, vicars, and curates, without 
any restraint or diminution. And such lack and de&ult 
as they can justly find in their parsons and curates, to 
call for reformation thereof at their ordinaries' and other 

10 superiors' hands, who, upon complaint and due proof 
thereof, shall reform the same accordingly. 

Also, That no person shall from henceforth alter or 
change the order and manner of any fasting-day that is 
commanded, or of common prayer or divine service, 

IS otherwise than is specified in these injunctions, until 
such time as the same shall be otherwise ordered and 
transposed by the king's authority. 

Also, That every parson, vicar, curate, chantry- 
priest, and stipendiary, being under the degree of a 

^ bachelor of divinity, shall provide and have of his own, 
within three months after this visitation, the New Testa- 
ment both in Latin and in English, with the Paraphrase 
upon the same of Erasmus, and diligently study the 
same, conferring the one with the other. And the 

>5 bishops and other ordinaries by themselves or their 
officers, in their sjmods and visitations, shall examine 
the said ecclesiastical persons how they have profited in 
the study of holy scripture. 

Also, In the time of high mass, within every church, 

30 he that saith or singeth the same, shall read or cause to 
be read the Epistle and Gospel of that mass in English 
and not in Latin, in the pulpit, or in such convenient 
place as the people may hear the same. And every 
Sunday and holy-day they shall plainly and distinctly 

35 read, or cause to be read, one chapter of the New Testa- 
ment in English, in the said place at mattins immedi- 



14 Injunctians given hy Edtcard VI. [II. 

ately after the lessons : and at evensong, after ^^ Magni- 
ficat," one chapter of the Old Testament. And to thd 
intent the premises may be more conveniently done, the 
king's majesty's pleasure is, that when ix. lessons should 
be read in the church, three of them shall be omitted s 
and left out with the responds : and at evensong time 
the responds with all the memories shall be left off for 
that purpose. 

Also, Because those persons, which be sick and in 
peril of death, be oftentimes put in despair, by the cisft vo 
and subtilty of the devil, who is then most busy, and 
especially with them that lack the knowledge, sure per- 
suasion, and steadfast belief, that they may be made par- 
takers of the great and infinite mercy, which Almighty 
God of his most bountiful goodness, and mere liberality, is 
without our deserving, hath offered freely to all persons, 
that put their full trust and confidence in him: therefore 
that this damnable vice of despair may be clearly taken 
away, and firm belief, and steadfast hope, surely conceived 
of all their parishioners, being in any danger, they shall » 
learn and have always in a readiness such comfortable 
places and sentences of scripture, as do set forth the 
mercy, benefits, and goodness of Almighty God towards 
all penitent and believing persons, that they may at all 
times (when necessity shall require) promptly comfort as 
their flock, with the lively word of God, which is the 
only stay of man's conscience. 

Also, To avoid all contention and strife, which hereto- 
fore hath risen among the king's majesty's subjects in 
sundry places of his realms and dominions, by reason of 30 
fond courtesy, and challenging of places in procession, 
and also that they may the more quietly hear that which 
is said or sung to their edifying, they shall not from 
henceforth, in any parish church at any time, use any 
procession about the church or churchyard, or other as 
place, but immediately before high mass, the priests 



1547-1 Infundions given hy Edward VI. 15 

with other of the quire shall kneel in the midst of the 
eharch, and sing or say plainly and distinctly the litany 
which is set forth in English, with all the suffrages fol- 
lowing, and none other procession or litany to be had 

5 or used but the said litany in English, adding nothing 
th^eto, but as the king's grace shall hereafter appoint : 
and in cathedral or collegiate churches, the same shall 
be done in such places as our commissaries in our visita- 
tion shall appoint. And in the time of the litany, of the 

lomASS, of the sermon, and when the priest readeth the 
scripture to the parishioners, no manner of persons with- 
out a just and urgent cause, shall depart out of the 
church; and all ringing and knolling of bells shall be 
utterly forborne at that time, except one bell in conve- 

IS nient time to be rung or knoUed before the sermon. 
Also, Like as the people be commonly occupied the 
work-day, with bodily labour, for their bodily sustenance, 
*so was the holy-day at the first beginning godly insti- 
tuted and ordained, that the people should that day give 

w themselves wholly to God. And whereas in our time, 
God is more offended than pleased, more dishonoured 
than honoured upon the holy-day, because of idleness, 
pride, drunkenness, quarrelling and brawling, which are 
most used in such days, people nevertheless persuading 

25 themselves sufficiently to honour God on that day, if 
they hear mass and service, though they understand 
nothing to their edifying : therefore all the king's faithful 
and loving subjects shall from henceforth celebrate and 

^90 was the holy -day] " The article about the strict observance of the 
30 hdy-day seemed a little doubtful ; whether by the holy-day was to be 
understood only the Lord's day, or that and all other church-festivals. 
The naming it singularly the holy-day, and in the end of that article 
adding festival days to the holy-day, seemed to favour their opinion 
that thought this strict observance of the holy-day was particularly 
3S intended for the Lord's day, and not for the other festivals." Burnet, 
H. R. v. ii. p. 59. See Collier, v. ii. p. 2 26. 



16 Injunctions given by Edward VI. 5(11. 

keep their holy-day according to God's holy will uid 
pleasure, that is, in hearing the word of God read- and 
taught, in private and public prayers, in knowledging 
their offences to God, and amendment of the same, in 
reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours, 5 
where displeasure hath been, in oftentimes receiving 
the communion of the very body and blood of Christy in 
visiting of the poor and sick, in using all soberness and 
godly conversation. Yet notwithstanding all parsons, 
vicars, and curates, shall teach and declare unto their la 
parishioners, that they may with a safe and quiet con- 
science, in the time of harvest, labour upon the holy 
and festival days, and save that thing which God hath 
sent. And if for any scrupulosity, or grudge of con- 
science, men should superstitiously abstain from working 15 
upon those days, that then they should grievously offend 
and displease God. 

Also, Forasmuch as variance and contention is a thing 
which most displeaseth God, and is most contrary to the 
blessed communion of the body and blood of our Saviour » 
Christ ; curates shall in nowise admit to the receiving 
thereof any of their cure and flock, who hath maliciously 
and openly contended with his neighbour, unless the 
same do first charitably and openly reconcile himself 
again, remitting all rancour and malice, whatsoever con- 95 
troversy hath been between them ; and nevertheless 
their just titles and rights they may charitably prosecute 
before such as have authority to hear the same. 

Also, That every dean, archdeacon, master of col- 
legiate church, master of hospital, and prebendary being 30 
priest, shall preach by himself personally t^^ice every 
year at the least, either in the place where he is inti- 
tuled, or in some church where he hath jurisdiction, or 
else which is to the said place appropriate or imited. 

Also, That they shall instruct and teach in their 3S 
cures, that no man ought obstinately and maliciously to 



^547-] Injunctions given by Edtoard VI. 17 

break and yiolate the laudable ceremonies of the church, 
by the king commanded to be observed, and as yet not 
abrogated. And on the other side, that whosoever doth 
superstitiously abuse them, doth the same to the great 

5 peril and danger of his soul's health : as in casting holy 
water upon his bed, upon images, and other dead things, 
or bearing about him holy bread, or St. John's Gospel, 
or making of crosses of wood upon Palm-Sunday, in time 
of reading of the passion, or keeping of private holy days, 

10 as bakers, brewers, smiths, shoemakers, and such other 
do ; or ringing of holy bells ; or blessing with the holy 
candle, to the intent thereby to be discharged of the 
burden of sin, or to drive away devils, or to put away 
dreams and phantasies, or in putting trust and confidence 

<5 of health and salvation in the same ceremonies, when 
they be only ordained, instituted, and made, to put us in 
remembrance of the benefits which we have received by 
Christ. And if he use them for any other purpose, he 
grievously offendeth God. 

» Also, That they shall take away, utterly extinct and 
destroy all shrines, covering of shrines, all tables, candle- 
sticks, trindles or rolls of wax, pictures, paintings, and 
all other monuments of feigned miracles, pilgrimages, 
idolatry and superstition: so that there remain no me- 

«5 mory of the same in walls, glass windows, or elsewhere 
within their churches or houses. And they shall exhoi-t 
all their parishioners to do the like, within their several 
houses. And that the churchwardens, at the common 
charge of the parishioners in every church, shall provide 

30 a comely and honest pulpit, to be set in a convenient 
place within the same, for the preaching of God's 
word. 

Also, They shall provide and have within three months 
after this visitation, a strong chest with a hole in the 

35 upper part thereof, to be provided at the cost and charge 
of the parish, having three keys, whereof one shall 

VOL. I. c 



18 Injunctions given by Edtoard VJ, [II. 

remain in the custody of the parson, vicar or curate, and 
the other two in the custody of the churchwardens, or 
any other two honest men, to be appointed by the parish 
from year to year. Which chest you shall set and &8ten 
near unto the high altar, to the intent the parishioners 5 
should put into it their oblation and alms for their poor 
neighbours. And the parson, vicar or curate, shall dili- 
gently from time to time, and specially wheii men make 
their testaments, call upon, exhort and move their neigh- 
bours, to confer and give, as they may well spare, to the lo 
said chest ; declaring unto them, whereas heretofore they 
have been diligent to bestow much substance otherwise 
than God commanded upon pardons, pilgrimages, tren- 
talles, decking of images, offering of candles, giving to 
friars, and upon other like blind devotions, they ought at 15 
this time to be much more ready to help the poor and 
needy, knowing that to relieve the poor is a true wor- 
shipping of God, required earnestly upon pain of everlast- 
ing damnation: and that also, whatsoever is given for 
their comfort, is given to Christ himself and so is 20 
accepted of him, that he will mercifully reward the same 
with everlasting life: the which alms and devotion of 
the people, the keepers of the keys shall at times con- 
venient take out of the chest, and distribute the same in 
the presence of their whole parish, or six of them, to be 35 
truly and faithfully delivered to their most needy neigh- 
bours : and if they be provided for, then to the repara- 
tion of high ways next adjoining. And also the money 
which riseth of fraternities, guilds, and other stocks of 
the church (except by the king's majesty's authority it 30 
be otherwise appointed) shall be put into the said chest, 
and converted to the said use, and also the rents and 
lands, the profit of cattle, and money given or bequeathed 
to the finding of torches, lights, tapers and lamps, shall 
be converted to the said use, saving that it shall be law- 35 
ful for them to bestow pait of the said profits upon the 



'547 •] Injunctions given by Edward VI. 19 

reparation of the church, if great need require, and 
whereas the parish is very poor, and not able otherwise 
to repair the same. 

And forasmuch as priests be public ministers of the 

s church, and upon the holy days ought to apply them- 
selves to the common administration of the whole parish, 
they shall not be bound to go to women lying in child- 
bed, except in time of dangerous sickness, and not to 
fetch any corse before it be brought to the churchyard ; 

10 and if the woman be sick, or the corse brought to the 
church, the priest shall do his duty accordingly in visit- 
ing the woman, and bmying the dead person. 

Also, To avoid the detestable sin of simony, because 
buying and selling of benefices is execrable before God ; 

«5 therefore all such persons as buy any benefices, or come 
to them by fraud or deceit, shall be deprived of such 
benefices, aiid be made unable at any time after to re- 
ceive any other spiritual promotion. And such as do 
sell them, or by any colour do bestow them for their 

«oown gain and profit, shall lose the right and title of 

patronage, and presentment for that time, and the gift 

thereof for that vacation shall appertain to the king's 

majesty. 

Also, Because through lack of preachers in many 

>5 places of the king's realms and dominions, the people 
continue in ignorance and blindness, all parsons, vicars, 
and curates shall read in the churches every Sunday one 
of the homilies, which are and shall be set forth for 
the same purpose by the king's authority, in such sort 

30 as they shall be appointed to do in the preface of 
the same. 

Also, Whereas many indiscreet persons do at this day 
uncharitably contemn and abuse priests and ministers of 
the church, because some of them (having small leam- 

ising) have of long time favoured fancies, rather than 

c 2 



20 Injunctions given hy Edward VI. [II. 

God's truth ; yet forasmuch as their oflSice and function 
is appointed of God, the king's majesty willeth and 
chargeth all his loving subjects, that from henceforth 
they shall use them charitably and reverently for their 
office and administration sake, and especially such ass 
labour in the setting forth of God's holy word. 

Also, That all manner of persons which understand 
not the Latin tongue, shall pray upon none other primer, 
but upon that which was lately set forth in English by 
the authority of king Henry the Eighth, of most &mou8 ic 
memory. And that no teachers of youth shall teach any 
other than the said primer. And all those which have 
knowledge of the Latin tongue, shall pray upon none 
other Latin primer, but upon that which is likewise set 
forth by the said authority. And that all graces to be 15 
said at dinner and supper, shall be always said in the 
English tongue. ^And that none other grammar shall be 
taught in any school or other place within the king's 
realms and dominions, but only that which is set forth 
by the said authority. w 

Item, That all chantry priests shall exercise them- 
selves in teaching youth to read and write, and bring 
them up in good manners, and other virtuous exercises. 

Item, when any sermon or homily shall be had, the 
prime and hours shall be omitted. 95 



^And that none other grammar] The grammar usually known by the 
name of ** Lily's," but the different parts of which appear to have been 
derived from such eminent contributors as Wolsey, Colet, Lily* and 
Elrasmus*. Having been approved by king Henry VIIL, \mg £d^ 
ward VL, queen Elizabeth, and in the canons of king James, it was^o 
received without question, as enjoying exclusive privileges under the 
royal supremacy, till the year 1664, when it was projected to have 
another form of grammar approved by convocation, and bishop Pearson 
undertook the management of the matter. But nothing was actually 
accompU^hed. See Kennet's Hist. v. iii. p. 274. 35 



^5470 Injunctiom given hy Edward VI, 21 

^ The form of bidding the coimnon-prayei's. 

You shall pray for the whole congregation of Christ's 
church; and especially for this church of England and 
Ireland ; wherein first I commend to your devout prayers, 

5 the king's most excellent majesty, supreme head imme- 
diately under God of the spirituality and temporality of 
the same church ; and for queen Katherine dowager, and 
also for my lady Mary, and my lady Elizabeth, the king's 
sisters. 

to Secondly, you shall pray for the lord protector's grace, 
with all the rest of the king's majesty's council ; for all 
the lords of this realm, and for the clergy and commons 
of the same ; beseeching Almighty God to give every of 
them in his degree, grace to use themselves in such wise, 

15 as may be to God's glory, the king's honour, and the- 
weal of this realm. 

^Thirdly, ye shall pray for all them that be departed 

^nefarm of bidding] " All the change that king Henry VIII. made 
in this [the bidding prayer] was that, the pope and cardinals* names 

so being left out, he was ordered to be mentioned with the addition of 
his title of Supreme Head, that the people hearing that oft repeated by 
their priests, might be better persuaded about it ; but his other titles 
were not mentioned. And this order was now renewed [in K. Edward's 
Injunctions] ; only the prayer for departed souls was changed from 

»5 what it had been. It was formerly in these words : "Ye shall pray 
for the souls that be departed, abiding the mercy of Almighty God, 
that it may please him the rather at the contemplation of our prayers, 
to grant them the fruition of his presence :" which did imply their 
being in a state where they did not enjoy the presence of God, which 

30 was avoided by the more general words now prescribed." Burnet 
H. R. V. ii. p. 61. 

* Thirdly, ye shall pray] The practice of praying for the dead was 
continued in the first Service Book of K. Edw. VI., set forth in the 
year 1549* and was expressed in the Burial Service, as well as in the 

35 following words contained in the prayer " for the whole state of 
Christ's Church :" ** We commend unto thy mercy, O Lord, all 
other thy servants which are departed hence from us with the sign of 

c3 



22 Injunctions given hy Edward VL [II. 

out of this world in the faith of Christ, that they with us, 
and we with them at the day of judgment, may rest both 
body and soul, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the 
kingdom of heaven. 

All which singular injunctions the king's miyestys 
ministereth unto his clergy and their successors, and to 
all his loving subjects : straitly charging and com- 
manding them to observe and keep the same upon pain 
of deprivation, sequestration of fruits or benefices, 
suspension, excommunication, and such other coercion, lo 
as to ordinaries, or other having ecclesiastical jurisdic- 

fiaith and now do rest in the sleep of peace : grant unto them, we 
beseech thee, thy mercy and everlasting peace." In the second Ser- 
vice Book, published in the year 1552, this prayer was entirely omitted, 
and the words ** militant here in earth" were added to the Prefix, to 15 
shew that the Church not only did not practise intercession for the 
dead, but even carefully excluded it. (See " The two Liturgies of 
K. Edw. VI. compared." p. xxxii.) Such prayers are more directly 
condemned in the Homilies of queen Elizabeth, in the foUowing words: 
" Therefore let us not deceive oiurselves, thinking that either we may 20 
help other, or other may help us, by their good and charitable prayers 
in time to come. For, as the Preacher saith, * Where the tree fedleth, 
whether it be toward the south or toward the north, in what place 
soever the tree falleth, there it lieth ;' (Ekicles. ii. 3.) meaning thereby 
that every mortal man dieth either in the state of salvation or damna^ 2$ 
tion, according as the words of the evangelist John do also plainly 
import. (John iii. 36.)" Third Part of the Sermon concerning Prayer, 
p. 283. ed. Oxf. 18 10. They were also directly condemned by arch- 
bishop Grindal in his Injunctions delivered to the province of York in 
the year 157 1 : '* nor any other superstitious ceremonies to be ob- 30 
served or used, which tended either to the maintenance of prayer for 
the dead, or of the popish purgatory." (N®. LXXVI.) The practice 
however has been commended by many divines of the English church, 
and it has been sought on several occasions, more especially at the 
beginning of the i8th century, to introduce it again into the Book of 55 
Common Prayer. See "The Christian Priesthood asserted," by Hickes ; 
and Tracts entitled, " Reasons for restoring the Prayers and Directions 
of Edw. Vlth's first Liturgy." 1717. 



15470 Injunctions given by Edward VI. 23 

tion, whom his majesty hath appointed for the due 
execution of the same, shall be seen convenient : charge 
ing and commanding them to see these injunctions 
observed and kept of all persons, being under their 
5 jurisdiction, as they will answer to his majesty for the 
contrary; and his majesty's pleasure is, that every 
justice of peace (being required) shall assist the ordi- 
naries and every of them for the due execution of the 
said injunctions. 



III. 

Paps Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi. ^^' Angliie. 

Paul. III. 13. Tho. Crakher. 15. '547* Edward. VI. i. 

The king's injunctions particularly delivered to tJie bishops. 

Heylin, Hist. Reform, p. 37. 

'0 1. T^HAT they should, to the utmost of their power, 

wit and understanding, see and cause all and 

singular the king's injunctions heretofore given, or after 

to be given, from time to time, in and through their 

diocese duly, fiuthfuUy, and truly to be kept, observed, 

15 and accomplished ; and that they should personally 
preach within their diocese every quarter of a year, once 
at the least, that is to say, once in their cathedral 
churches, and thrice in other several places of their 
diocese, whereas they should see it more convenient, 

so and necessary, except they had a reasonable excuse to 
the contrary. Likewise that they should not retain into 
their service or household any chaplain, but such as were 
learned and able to preach the word of God, and those 
they should also cause to exercise the same. 

»5 2. And secondly. That they should not give orders to 
any person, but such as were learned in holy Scripture ; 
neither should deny them to such as were learned in 

c 4 



24 Injunctions given by Edward VI. [IV. 

the same, being of honest conversation or living. And 
lastly, that they should not at any time or place preach, 
or set forth unto the people, any doctrine contrary or re- 
pugnant to the effect and intent contained or set forth in 
the king's highness' homilies ; neither yet should admit or 5 
give license to preach to any within their diocese, but 
to such as they should know, or at least assuredly trust, 
would do the same ; and if at any time, by hearing or 
by report proved, they should perceive the contrary, 
they should then incontinent not only inhibit that 10 
person so offending, but also punish him, and revoke 
their license. 



IV. 

Papae Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi. Reg^. Angliie. 

Paul. III. 13. Tho. Crakmer. 15. I547* Edward. VI. i. 

® The king's letter to the archbishop of Yorky concerning 
the visitation then intended. Ex MS. Cott. Titus. B. 2. 
fol. 89. 

Tj^DWARDUS sextus Dei gratia Angliae, Franciae et 
Hiberniae rex, fidei defensor, ac in terra ecclesiee 
Anglicanse et Hiberniae supremum caput, Beverendis- 15 
simo in Christo Patri, ac praedilecto consiliario nostro 
Roberto permissione divina Eboracen. archiepiscopo, An- 
gliae primati et metropolitano, salutem. Quum nos su- 
prema authoritate nostra regia omnia et singula loca 
ecclesiastica clerumque et populum, infra et per totum «> 
nostrum Angliae regnum constituta, propediem visitare 
statuerimus, vobis tenore praesentium stricte inhibemus 
atque mandamus, et per vos suffraganeis vestris confra- 

c The king's letter] " In the beginning of May, letters were issued 
out from the king to the archbishops, that they and all their feUow- 35 
bii^hops should forbear their visitations, as was usually done in all 
royal and archiepiscopal visitations." Strype, Cranm. v. i. p. 208. 



15470 In/uneUans given hy Edward VI. S5 

tribus episcopis, ac per illos suis archidiaconis, ac aliis 
quibuscunque jurisdictionem ecclesiasticam exercentibus, 
tarn exemptis quam non exemptis, infra vestram pro- 
▼inciam Eboracen. ubilibet constitutis, sic inhiberi yoIu- 
5 mus atque praecipimus, quatenus nee vos nee quisquam 
eorum eeclesias aut alia loca praedicta, clerumve aut 
populum yisitare, aut ea quae sunt jurisdictionis exercere, 
seu quiequam aJiud in praejudicium dictae nostrae visita- 
tionis generalis quovismodo attemptare praesumat sive 

lo praesumanty sub poena eontemptus donee et quousque 
lieentiam et faeultatem vobis et eis in ea parte largiend. 
et impertiend. fore duxerimus. Et quia non solum 
intemam animorum subditorum nostrorum pacem, verum 
etiam extemam eorum concordiam, multiplicibus opini- 

15 onum procellis ex contentione, dissentione et contro- 
versiis concionatorum exortis, multum corruptam, vio- 
latam ac misere divulsam esse cemimus, idcirco nobis 
admodum necessarium visum est ad sedandas et com- 
ponendas hujusmodi opinionum varietates, quatenus in- 

^ohibeatis seu inhiberi faciatis omnibus et singulis epi- 
Bcopis, ne alibi quam in ecclesiis suis cathedralibus, et 
aliis personis ecclesiasticis quibuscunque, ne in alio loco 
quam in suis ecclesiis coUegiatis sive parochialibus, in 
quibus intitulati sunt, praedicent, aut subditis nostris 

35 quovismodo concionand. munus exerceant, nisi ex gratia 
nostra speciali ad id postea licentiati fuerint, sub nostrae 
indignationis poena. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum 
nostrum, quo ad causas ecclesiasticas utimur, praesenti- 
bus apponi mandavimus. Dat. quarto die mensis Mali 

30 anno Domini 1547, et regni nostri anno prime. 

E. Somerset. T. Seymour. 

T. Cantuar. Will. Petre, Sec'y. 

W. St. John. 

J. RUSSEL. 

is John Gage. John Barker. 



36 InjunetwiM pivm Ijf Edward VI. [V. 



V. 

Papae Rom. Archieplsc. Cant. Anno Christi. Reg. Angliae. 

Paul. III. 14. Tho. Cbakmer. 16. i547- Edward. VI. i. 

^A proclamation concerning the irreverent talkers of the 
sacrament. Dated the S7th day of December^ anno 
regni reg. Edwardi primo. 

\^HEREAS the kyngs higlines hath of late, with 
the assent and consent of the lords spiritual and 
temporal, and the commons in the parliament held the 
fourth day of November, in the first year of his most 
gracious reign, made a good and godly act and estatute 5 
against those who do contempn, despise, or with im- 
semely and ungodly words deprave and revile the holy 
sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord, commonly 
called " the sacrament of the altar:'* and the said 
estatute hath most prudently declared, by al the words 10 
and terms in which scripture speaketh of it, what is 
undoubtedly to be accepted, beleeved, taken and spoken 
by and of the said sacrament : yet this notwithstanding 
his majesty is advertised, that some of his subjects, not 
contented with such words and terms as scripture doth >s 
declare thereof, nor with that doctrine which the holy 
Ghost by the evangelists and St. Paul hath taught us, 
do not, cease to move contentious and superfluous ques- 
tions of the said holy sacrament, and supper of the Lord, 
entryng rashly into the discussing of the high mystery 20 
thereof, and go about in their sermons or talks arro- 
gantly to define the manner, nature, fashion, ways, pos- 
sibility or impossibility of those matters ; which neither 
make to edification, nor God hath by his holy word 
opened. »5 

Which persons, not contented reverently and with 

f A proclamation] Strype, Mem. V. ii. P. i. p. 126. and P. a. p. 340. 



I547-] If^u/netians gwen by Edward VI. 27 

obedient faith t'accept that the said sacrament, ac- 
cording to the saying of St. Paul, " the bread is the 
communion," or partaking, " of the body of the Lord ; 
the wine," likewise, " the partaking of the bloud of 

5 Christ" by the words instituted and taught of Christ : 
and that the body and bloud of Jesu Christ is there ; 
which is our comfort, thanksgiviug, love-token of Christ's 
love towards us, and of ours as his members within our- 
self, search and strive unreverently whether the body 

lo and bloud aforesaid is there really or figuratively, locally 
or circumscriptly, and having quantity and greatnes, or 
but substantially and by substance only, or els but in 
a figure and manner of speaking; whether his blessed 
body be there, head, leggs, armes, toes and nails, or any 

15 other ways, shape and manner, naked or clothed; whe- 
ther he is broken or chewed, or he is always whole ; 
whether the bread there remaineth as we se, or how 
it departeth ; whether the flesh be there alone, and the 
bloud, or part, or ech in other, or in th'one both, in 

wth'other but only bloud; and what bloud; that only 
which did flow out of the side, or that which remained : 
with other such irreverent; superfluous, and curious 
questions, which, how and what, and by what means, 
and in what forme, may bring into theim, which of 

35 human and corrupt curiosity hath desire to search out 
such mysteries as lyeth hid in the infinite and bottomless 
depth of the wisdom and glory of God, and to the which 
our humain imbecillity cannot attain : and therefore 
oftymes tumeth the same to their own and others de- 

30 8truction by contention and arrogant rashnes, which 
simple and christian affection reverently receiving and 
obediently beleving without further search, taketh and 
useth to most great comfort and profit. 

For reformation whereof, and to th'intent that further 

35 contention, tumult and question might not rise amonges 
the king's subjects, the king's highnes, by th'advice of 



28 Injundums given hy Edward VL [V. 

the lord protector, and other his majestie's coancel, 
straitly willeth and commandeth, that no manner per- 
son from henceforth do in any wise couteudously and 
openly argue, dispute, reason, preach or teach, affirming 
any more termes of the said blessed sacrament, than be 5 
expresly taught in the holy scripture, and mentioned in 
the foresaid act ; nor deny none which be therein con- 
teined and mentioned, until such tyme as the king^s 
majesty, by th'advice of his highnes council and the 
clergy of this realme, shal define, declare and set frirthe lo 
an open doctrin therof, and what termes and words 
may justly be spoken therby, other then be expresly in 
the scripture conteined in the act before rehearsed. 

In the mean while the king's highnesses pleasure is, 
by th'advice aforesaid, that every his loving subjects shall 15 
devoutly and reverently affirm and take that holy bread 
to be Christ's body, and that cup to be the cup of his 
holy bloud, according to the purport and effect of t'holy 
scripture conteined in th'act before expressed, and ac- 
commodate theimself rather to take the same sacrament m 
worthily, than rashly to entre into the discussyng of the 
high mystery thereof. 

Yet the king's highness mindeth not hereby to let or 
stop the ignorant and willing to learn, reverently or 
privatly to demaund of those whom he thynketh know- %$ 
eth more, the further instruction and teaching in the 
said blessed sacrament : so that the same be not done 
with contention, nor in open audience, with a company 
gathered together about them, nor with tumult : nor 
doth prohibite any man hereby likewise so quietly, de-30 
voutly and reverently to teach or instruct the weak and 
unlearned, according to the more talent and leamyng 
gyven to hym of God. But only, that al contention, 
strife and tumult, and irreverentness might be avoyded, 
and in open audience and preaching nothing taught, but 35 
which may have the holy scripture for warrant. 



'547 •] Injunctions pif>en hy Edward VI, 29 

Upon pain that whosoever shal openly with contention 
or tumult, and in a company gathered together, either 
in churches, alehouses, markets, or elsewhere, contrary 
to the fourm and effect of this proclamation, defend and 

smaintein, or irreverently and contentiously demaund of 
any man, any of the questions before rehersed, either on 
the one part, or of the other, or any such like, or do 
otherwise revile, contempne or despise the said sacra- 
ment, by calling it an idol, or other such vile name, shal 

lo incurre the kyng's high indignation, and suffre imprison- 
ment, or to be otherwise grievously punished at his 
majesties will and pleasure. 

Gevyng further in authority to al justices of peace 
within the shires where they dwel, to apprehend and 

15 take al such as contentiously and tumultuously, with 
companies or routs assembled about them, do dispute, 
ai^e or reason,, or stifly maintein, or openly preach and 
define the questions before rehersed, or any of them, or 
such like, either on th'one part or th'other, and to 

ao commit the same to prison, untyl such tyme as the 
king's majesty's pleasure herein be known ; and that 
they immediately do certify the name or names of the 
party so offendyng, and of theim who were there at the 
same tyme present, making the rout or assemble, to the 

n king's highnesses counsel : willyng and commaunding 
the said justices, with al diligence to execute the pre- 
misses according to the purport, effect, and true meanyng 
of the same, and their most bound duties, as they tender 
his highnes wil and pleasure, and wil answer to the 

30 contrary upon their peril. 



so Injvmeticm given by Edward VI. [VI. 



VI. 

Pape Rom. ArdiiqMsc. Cant. Anno ChristL B^. AngUs. 

Paul. III. 14. Tuo. Cranmer. 16. 1547. Edward. VI. 1. 

^A proclamation for the abstet/ning from fleshin the lent time. 
Dated tlie \%th day of January^ anno reg. prima. 

T^HE king's highnes, by the advice of his most en- 
tirely beloved uncle, Edward duke of Somerset, 
governor of his person and protector of all his realms, 
dominions and subjects, and other of his privy coimcil ; 
considering, that his highnes hath not only cure ands 
charge of the defence of his realms and dominions, as a 
king, but also as a christian king and supreme bed of 
the church of England and Ireland, a desire, wil and 
charge to lead and instruct his people, to him committed 
of Crod, in such rites, ways and customs, as might be lo 

8 A proclamation] '* The Parliament that sat the next year converted 
this order for observation of the fasting-days into a law, which con- 
tains the very words of this proclamation .... But notwithstanding these 
orders for the keeping of Lent, I cannot but take notice what extra- 
vagant licenses were granted sometimes by the king's patents for dis- 15 
pensing with the observation of it. As in the year 1551, Jan. 10, a 
license was granted to the Lord Admiral Clinton to eat flesh ' cum 
quibuscunque cum eo ad suam mensam convescentibus, omnibus diebua 
jejunalibus quibuscunque.' " Strjrpe, Mem. V. 2. P. i. p. 129. and 
P. 2. p. 343. It is worthy of notice, as shewing on what grounds the w 
Reformers recommended the practice of fasting, that within a few 
months from the issuing of this proclamation, Cranmer published the 
following among his Articles of Visitation, (No. X.) ** Whether they 
have declared, and to their wits and power have persuaded the people, 
that the manner and kind of fasting in Lent and other days in the 35 
year is but a mere positive law, and that therefore all persons having 
just cause of sickness or other necessity, or being licensed by the 
king's majesty, may moderately eat all kinds of meats without grudge 
or scruple of conscience." See also No. XIL and Burnet H. R. v. ii. 
p. 121. 30 



^547*] In/undums ffivm by Edward VL 81 

acceptable to God, and to the further encrease of good 
living and vertne; and that his subjects now having a 
more perfect and clear light of the gospel, and trae 
word of the Lord, thorow the infinite clemency and 

5 mercy of almighty God, by the hands of his majesty and 
his most noble Mher of famous memory, promulgate, 
shewed, declared and opened unto them, should and 
ought therby in al good works and vertues increase, be 
more forward and diligent and plentiful, as in lasting, 

10 prayer and almose deeds, in love, charity, obedience, and 
other such good works commaunded to us of God in 
his holy scripture : yet his highnes is advertised and 
informed, that diverse of his subjects be not only to al 
these more slow and negligent, but rather contempners 

15 and despisers of such good and godly acts and deeds, 
to the which if they were of their own minds bended 
and inclined, they needed not by outward and princely 
power be appointed and commaunded. But forsomuch 
as at this tyme, now alate, more then at any other tyme, 

*oa great part of his subjects do break and contempne that 
abstinence, which of long tyme hath been used in this 
his majestie's realm, upon the fridays and Saturdays, 
and the tyme commonly called lent, and other accus- 
tomed tymes ; his highnes is constreined to se a con- 
's venient order herein set and appointed: not mindyng 
therby, that his subjectes should thynk any difference to 
be in the days or meats, or that th'one should be to God 
more holy, more pure, or more clean, then th'other ; for 
al days and al meats be of one and equal purity, cleannes 

30 and holines, that we should in theim, and by theim live 
to the glory of God, and at al tymes, and for al meats, 
geve thanks unto hym, of the which none can defile us 
at any tyme, or make us unclene ; being christian men, 
to whom al things be holy and pure, so that they be not 

35 used in disobedience and vice: but his majesty hath 
allowed and approved the days and tymes before accus- 



82 InJuncHons given by Edward VI. [VI. 

tomed, to be continued and still observed here in this 
church of England, both that men should on those days 
abstein and forbear their pleasures, and the meats 
wherein they have more delight, to th* intent to subdue 
their bodies unto the soul and spirit; unto the which 5 
to exhort and move men is the oflSce of a good and 
godly hed and ruler. And also for worldly and civil 
policy, certain days in the yere to spare flesh and use 
fish for the benefit of the commonwealth, and profit of 
this his majesties realm, wherof many be fishers and men 10 
using that trade of living, unto the which this realm, 
on every part environed with the seas, and so plentiful 
of fresh waters, doth easily minister occasion, to the 
great sustinaunce of this his highnes people. So that 
hereby both the nourishment of the land might be en- «s 
creased by saving flesh, and specially at the spring tyme, 
when lent doth commonly fal, and when the most com- 
mon and plenteous breedyng of flesh is. And also divers 
of his loving subjects have good lyv)Tigs, and get great 
riches therby, in uttering and selling such meats as the «o 
sea and fresh water doth minister unto us : and this his 
majestie's realm hath more plenty of ships, boats, crayes 
and other vessels, by reason of those which by hope of 
lucre do follow that trade of lyvyng. 

Wherefore his majesty, having consideration, that 35 
where men of their own mynds do not geve themselves, 
so oft as they should do, to fastyng, a common absti- 
nence may and should be by the prince enjoyned and 
commaunded ; and having an eyand mind to the profit 
and commodity of his realm and subjects, and to a com-ao 
mon and civil policy, hath willed and commaunded ; 
and by these presents doth wil and commaund, by 
th'advice aforesaid, al maner of person and persons, of 
what estate, degree, or condition, he or they be (other 
then such as already be, or hereafter shal be, excused as 
by law, or licensed or authorized sufficiently to the 



'5470 Injunctions gitfen by Edvxird VL ^3 

contrary) to observe and keep from hencefurth such fastyng 
days, and the tyme commonly called lent, in absteining 
from al maner of flesh, as heretofore in this realm hath 
been most commonly used and accustomed: upon pein, 
5 that whosoever shal, upon any day heretofore wont to 
be fasted from flesh, and not by the king's highnes or 
his predecessors abrogate and taken away, eat flesh 
contrary to this proclamation, shal incurr the king's high 
indignation, and shal sufire imprisonment, and be other- 

fo wise grievously punished at his majestie's wil and plea- 
sure. And further #the king's highnes, by th' advice 
aforesaid, straitly chargeth and commaundeth al maiors, 
baUifisy and other head-officers, and rulers of cities and 
towns, and al justices of peace in the sheres where they 

■5 be in commission, to be attendant and diligent to the 
execution of this proclamation, in conmiitting to prison 
the offenders contrary to the proclamation, upon suflS- 
cient proof thereof by two suflScient witnesses, before 
them had and made : there to remain during the king's 

«o pleasure, according to the true purport, effect and mean- 
ing of the same, as they tender the king's majestie's wil 
and pleasure, and wil answer the contrary at their peril. 
And where the late king of most famous memory, father 
to his highnes, hath geven divers yeres licence to his 

»5 subjects in the tyme of lent to eat butter, chese, and 
other meats, commonly called white meats, the king's 
highnes, by th'advice aforesaid, considering the same to 
have been done not without great considerations, doth 
geve likewise licence and authority to al his loving 

JO subjects firom hencefurth freely for ever in the tyme of 
lent, or other prohibited tymes by law or custom, to 
eat butter, eggs, chese and other white meats, any law, 
statute, act or custome to the contrary notwithstanding. 



VOL. I. D 



34 Injunctions given by Edward VI. [VII. 



VII. 

Papaa Rom. Archiepisc. Cant Anno Christi Rag. Anglias 

Paul. III. 14. Tho. Cranmer. 16. »547« Edward. VI. 2. 

A proclamation against those thai do innovate^ alter^ or 
leave done any rite or ceremony in the church of their 
private authority^ and against them which preach without 
license^ set forth the sia^th day of February^ in the second 
year of the hinges majesty's most gra^cious reign. — Ex 
reg. Cranm. fol. 111. et Burnet Hist, Reform, vol. ii. 
app. p. 128. 

T^HE king's majesty by the advice of his most entirely 
beloved uncle the duke of Somerset, governor of 
his most royal person, and protector of all his realms, 
dominions, and subjects, and others of his council, consi- 
dering nothing so much to tend to the disquieting of this s 
realm as diversity of opinions and variety of rites and ce- 
remonies concerning religion and worshipping of Almighty 
God; and therefore studying all the ways and means, 

A Proclamation] The restraints imposed by this proclamation upon 
the Reformers, who were desirous of imitating the example of some 10 
foreign churches, were repeated in the proclamation published in the 
March following together with the Order of the Commimion, and led to 
the compilation of the first Book of Common Prayer, which was ratified 
by parliament in the month of January, 1549. See " The two Liturgies 
of K. Edw. VI. compared," pp. xi. and 425. Strype's Mem. v. ii. P. I. 15 
p. 230. and P. 2. p. 346. " This proclamation was necessary for giving 
authority to the archbishop of Canterbury's letters, which were cen- 
sured as a great presumption for him, without any public order, to 
appoint changes in sacred rites. Some observed that the council went 
on making proclamations, with arbitrary punishments, though the act ^0 
was repealed that had formerly given so great authority for them. To 
this it was answered^ that the king by his supremacy might stOl in 
matters of religion make new orders, and add punishments upon the 
transgressors ; yet this was much questioned, though universally sub- 
mitted to." Burnet, H. R. v. ii. p. 122. and v. ii. P. 2. p. 185. «5 



^5470 InJuneHans given by Edward VI. 85 

which can be, to direct this church and the cure com- 
mitted to his highness, in one and most true doctrine, 
rite, and usage: yet is advertised that certain private 
curates, preachers, and other laymen, contrary to their 

5 bounden duties of obedience, do rashly attempt of their 
own and singular wit and mind, in some parish churches 
and otherwise, not only to persuade the people from the 
old and accustomed rites and ceremonies, but also them- 
selves bring in new orders every one in their church ac- 

10 cording to their fantasies; the which, as it is an evident 
token of pride and arrogance, so it tendeth both to con- 
fusion and disorder, and also to the high displeasure of 
Almighty God, who loveth nothing so much as order and 
obedience. Wherefore his majesty straitly chargeth and 

•5 commandeth, that no manner of person, of what estate, 
order, or degree soever he be, of his private mind, will, or 
fiEintasy do omit, leave done, change, alter or innovate 
My order, rite or ceremony commonly used and fre- 
quented in the church of England, and not commanded 

20 to be left done at any time, in the reign of our late 
sovereign lord, his highness" father, other than such as his 
highness, by the advice aforesaid, by his majesty*s visitors, 
mjunctions, statutes, or proclamations hath already or 
hereafter shall command to be omitted, left, innovated, or 

>5 changed ; but that they be observed after that sort, as 
before they were accustomed, or else now sith prescribed 
1^ the authority of his majesty, or by the means aforesaid, 
upon pain, that whosoever shall offend contrary to this 
proclamation, shall incur his highness' indignation, and 

30 suffer imprisonment and other grievous punishment, at 
his majesty's will and pleasure. Provided always, that 
for not bearing a candle upon Candlemas-day, not taking 
ashes upon Ashwednesday, not bearing palm upon Palm- 
wmday, not creeping to the cross, not taking holy bread 

35 or holy water, or for omitting other such rites and cere^ 

D 2 



86 Injunctions given by Edward VI. [VII« 

monies concerning religion, and the use of the chnrcby 
which the most reverend father in God the archbishop of 
Canterbury by his majesty's will and commandment with 
the advice aforesaid hath declared, or hereafter shall de- 
clare to the other bishops by his writing under seal, as 5 
heretofore hath been accustomed, to be omitted or 
changed ; no man hereafter be imprisoned nor otherwise 
punished, but all such things to be reputed for the ob- 
servation, and following of the same, as though they were 
commanded by his majesty's injunctions. And to the lo 
intent, that rash and seditious preachers should not abuse 
his highness' people, it is his majesty's pleasure, that who- 
soever shall take upon him to preach openly in any parish 
church, chapel, or any other open place other than those, 
which be licensed by the king's majesty, or his highness' »s 
visitors, the archbishop of Canterbury, or the bishop of 
the diocese, where he do preach, except he be the bishop, 
parson, vicar, dean, warden, or provost, in his or their 
own cure, shall be forthwith, upon such attempt and 
preaching contrary to this proclamation, committed to«o 
prison, and there remain until such time as his majesty, 
by the advice aforesaid, hath taken order for the further 
punishment of the same. And that the premisses should 
be more speedily and diligently done and performed, 
his highness giveth straitly in commandment to all jus- *5 
tices of peace, mayors, sheriffi^ constables, headboroughs, 
churchwardens, and all other his majesty's oflScers and 
ministers, and rulers of towns, parishes, and hamlets, that 
they be diligent and attendant to the true and faithful 
execution of this proclamation, and every part thereof, 5^ 
according to the intent, purport, and effect of the same.. 
And that they of their proceedings herein, or if any 
offender be, after they have committed the same to: 
prison, do certify his highness, the lord protector, or hm\ 
majesty's council with all speed thereof accordingly, as 35 



'547-] Ii^undians ^iven by Edward VI. 37 

they tender his majesty's pleasure, the wealth of the 
realm, and will answer to the contrary at their utmost 
perils. 

God save the king. 



VIIL 

Pap« Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglic 

Paul. III. 14. Tho. Crakmer. 16. 1547. Edward. VI. 3. 

The archbishop^s letter to the bishop cf London against 
candlesy and ashes y and palms in churches. — Ex reg. 
Bonn. fol. 110. 

* Tp'HIS is to advertise your lordship, that my lord pro- 
tector's grace, with advice of others the king's 

The archbishop* 8 letter'] The practices forbidden in this letter had al- 
ready been condemned in the Homilies pubUshed in July 1547. the 
5th of which, " Of good works," now shown to have been written by 

loCranmer himself (Wordsworth EkicL Biog. v. iii. p. 505. Cranmer's 
Works by Jenkyns, v. i. p. xlvi. and v. ii. p. 121) contains the follow- 
ing words, in a list of papistical superstitions and abuses ; "of purga- 
tory, of masses satisfieurtory, of stations and jubilees, of feigned reficks, 
of hallowed beads, bells, bread, water, palms, candles, fire, and such 

15 other." The editions indeed, from that of Bill in 1623 down to our 
own times, generally read " psalms, candles, fire." And so also 
Strype quotes the passage in his Memorials of Cranmer, v. i. p. 249. 
But it is evident from this letter, from the nature of the case, and from 
the original edition of Grafton in the year 1547, that the right reading 

10 is " palms." And so it is printed in the Oxford edition of 1832. It 
was on this passage that Bp. Gardiner, in a letter addressed to the 
Protector Somerset soon after the publication of the Homilies, made 
the following remarks (See Strype's Cranm. v. ii. p. 786.) " The 
Boke of Homilies numbreth the hallowing of bread, palmes, and candles 

15 among papistical superstitions and abuses. The Doctrine of the Par- 
fiament willeth them to be reverently used. And so do the Injunctions 
Qowe set fourthe. Which made me thinke the printer myght thrust 
in an homilie of his owen devise." How hx these practices were 
■flowed by the recent Injunctions may be seen by the direct com- 

D 3 



38 Injunctions given by Edward VI. [IX. 

majesty's council, for certain considerations them there- 
unto moving, hath fully resolved, that no candles should 
be borne upon Candlemas-day, nor also from henceforth 
ashes or palms used any longer. Wherefore I beseech 
your lordship to cause admonition thereof to be given in 5 
all parish churches throughout your diocese with all ce- 
lerity : and likewise unto all other bishops, that be here- 
abouts, that they may do the semblable in their dioceses 
before Candlemas-day. And as for other bishops, that 
cannot have knowledge so soon, you may give them 10 
knowledge hereof at more leisure, so that it be done 
before Ashwednesday. Thus fare your lordship well, 

your loving friend, 

T. Cantuar. 
Lambeth, Jaii. 27. 1547. 15 



IX. 

Papse Rom. Archiepiifc. Cant. Anno Cbrisii Rug. Auglue 

Paul. III. 14. Tho. Cranmer. 16. i547> Edwasd. VI. a. 

Mandatmn ad amovendas et delendas imagines. — Ex reg. 

Cranmer fol. 32. a. 

T^HOMAS permissione divina Cantuariensis archiepi- 
scopus, totius Angliae primas et metropolitanus, per 

parison of them, and of the preceding Proclamation ; in maintaining 
that they were in accordance with the Doctrine of the Parliament 
Bp. Grardiner referred to " The necessary Doctrine and Erudition of w 
any Christen Man," published in 1540, which treated the errors of 
the church of Rome with great leniency, and was approved by parlia- 
ment in the year T543, Bp. Gardiner himself having taken an active 
part in the correction of it. See Strype's Cranm. v. i. pp. 143 and 
226. It would appear that this letter of the archbishop derives its *5 
authority from the preceding proclamation, and was written after the 
order in council was agreed upon, but before the proclamation was 
issued. But here, as in many other cases, there is some confiisi<Hi as 
to dates. Comp. Collier, v. ii. p. 241. Lingard. v. iv. p. 393. 

Mandatum ad amovendas.'] Burnet, H. R. v. ii. p. 123. Collier, v. ii. 30 
p. 241. 



'54-70 Injunctions given hy Edward VI. 39 

illustiissimum in Christo principem, et dominum nostrum 
dominum Edwardum sextum Dei gratia Angliae, Franciae 
et Hibemiae regem, fidei defensorem, et in terra ecclesiae 
Anglieanae, et Hibemicae supremum caput, sufficienter 

5 et legitime auctorizatus ; venerabili eonfratri nostro do- 
mino Edmundo eadem permissione Londoniensi episcopo, 
vestrove vicario in spiritualibus generali et oiliciali prin- 
cipali, salutem et fratemam in Domino charitatem. Li- 
terals missivas elarissimorum et prudentissimorum domi- 

10 norum de private consilio suae regiae majestatis manibus 
subscriptas, nobis inscriptas et directas nuper recepimus, 
tenorem subsequentem complectentes. 

After our right hartye recommendations to your good 
lordship ; where now of late in the king's majestie's visi- 

»5tation, amonge other godlye injunctions commaunded 
to be generally observed throughe all partes of this his 
highnes realme, one wes set forthe, for the taking downe 
of all suche images, as had at any tyme ben abused with 
pilgrimages, oiferinges orcensinges; albeit that this said 

'0 injunction hathe in many partes of the realme ben wel 
and quyetlye obeyed and executed, yet in many other 
places muche stryfe and contentyon hath rysen and dayly 
ryseth, and more and more encreaseth, about the execu- 
tion of the same, some men beyng so superstytyous or 

15 rather wylfiill, as they wold by theyr good wylles retayne 
all suche images styll, although they have been mooste 
manyfestlye abused, and in some places also the images 
whiche by the saide injunctions were taken downe, be now 
restored and set up againe, and almoste in every place ys 

30 contentyon for images, whether they have been abused or 
not ; and whiles these men go about on both sides con- 
tentyoTislye to obtaine theyr mindes, contending whether 
this or that image hath been offered unto, kyssed, censed, 
or otherwyse abused, partyes have in some places ben 
35 taken in suche sorte, as further inconvenyence is very 
like to ensue, yf remedie be not provided in tyme : con- 

D 4 



40 Injunctions given by Edward VI. [IX. 

sidering therefore that allmost in no places of this realme 
ys any sure quyetness, but where all images be ho<^y 
taken awaye and pulled downe already, to the intent that 
all contentyon in everye parte of this realme for this 
matter may be clerely taken away, and that the lyvely 5 
images of Chryste shulde not contende for the deade 
images, whiche be things not necessary, and without 
whiche the churches of Christ contynued most godlye 
many yeres. We have thought good to signify imto you, 
that his highnes pleasure with th' advyse and consent of lo 
us the lord protectour and the reste of the counsell ys, 
that immediately upon the sight herof, with as con- 
venyent diligence as you maye, you shall not onelye gyve 
ordre, that all the images remayninge in any churche or 
chappell within your diocese be removed and taken away, is 
but also by your letters signifye unto the reste of the 
busshopes within your provynce his highnesse pleasure 
for the lyke order to be gyren by them and every of 
them, within their several dioceses ; and in th'execution 
therof we requyre bothe you and the reste of the bus- w 
shopes foresayd, to use suche foresight as the same may 
be quyetlye donne with as good satisfaction of the people 
as may be. Thus fare your goode lordeshipe well. From 
Somersett place the twenty first of February 1547. 
Your lordshipp's assured frendes, E. Somersett, Jo. Rus- 25 
sell, Henricus Arundell, T. Seymour, Anthony Wynge- 
felde, William Pagett. Quibus quidera literis pro nostro 
erga suam regiam majestatem officio, uti decet, obtempe- 
rare summopere cupientes, vestrae fratemitati tenore 
praesentium committimus et regiae majestatis vice et no- 30 
mine, quibus in hac parte fimgimur, mandamus, quatenus 
attento diligenter literarum hujuscemodi tenore, omnibus 
et singulis confratribus coepiscopis nostris, et ecclesiae 
nostrae Christi Cantuariensis suffraganeis, cum ea qua 
poteritis celeritate accommoda praecipiatis, ut ipsorumss 
singuli in suis cathedralibus, nee non civitatum et dioece- 



1547-] Injimdions given hy Edward VI. 41 

sium 8uaram parochialium ecclesiis, exposito publico 
literarum hujuscemodi tenore, omnia et singula in Uteris 
praeinsertis comprekensa, deducta et descripta, quatenus 
eos concemunt, in omnibus et per omnia exequi et per- 

$ impleriy sedulo et accurate curent et fieri non postponant, 
sicque a vobis, frater charissime, in civitate et dioecesi 
vestris London, per omnia fieri et perimpleri volumus et 
mandamus. Dat. in manerio. nostro de Lambehithe 
vigesimo quarto die mensis Februarii, anno Domini juxta 

10 computationem ecclesiae Anglicanae 1547. Et nostrae 
consecrationis anno 15. 



X. 

PafMB Rom. Archiepisc. Quit. Anno (/hriHti R«g. AngHai 

Paul. III. 14. Tuo. Cbanheb. 16. i547* Edward. VI. 2, 

Articles to be enquired of in the visitations to be had 
within the diocese of Canterbury^ in the second year of 
the reign of our dread sovereign lord Edward the SiMh^ 
by the grace of God king of England^ France^ and 
Ireland^ defender of the faith, and in earth of the 
church of England and also of Ireland, the supreme 
head. 

IJ^RST, Whether parsons, vicars and curates, and 

every of them have purely and sincerely, without 

colour or dissimulation, four times in the year at the 

'5 least, preached against the usurped power, pretended 

authority, and jurisdiction of the bishop of Rome. 

Articles to be enquired] Strype, Craijra. vol. i. p. 259. " Injunc- 

tioiu were certainly given by the archbishop either at this or some 

other diocesan visitation shortly afterwards, as they are referred to in 

10 those which he delivered to the Chapter of Canterbury two years later." 

Cranmer's Works by Jenkyns, vol. i. p lix. 



4S Injunctions given hy Edt/oard VI. [X. 

Item, Whether they have preached and declared like- 
wise four times in the year at the least, that the king's 
majesty's power, authority and pre-eminence, within his 
realms and dominions, is the highest power under God. 

Item, Whether any person hath by writing, cyphering, 5 
preaching, or teaching, deed or act, obstinately holden, 
and stand with to extol, set forth, maintain or defend 
the authority, jurisdiction, or power of the bishop of 
Rome, or of his see heretofore claimed and usurped, 
or by any pretence, obstinately or maliciously, invented lo 
any thing for the extolling of the same, or any part 
thereof. 

Item, Whether in their common prayers they use not 
the collects made for the king, and make not special 
mention of his majesty's name in the same. 15 

Item, Whether they do not every Sunday and holy- 
day, with the collects of the English procession, say the 
prayer set forth by the king's majesty for peace between 
England and Scotland. 

Item, Whether they have not removed, taken away «<> 
and utterly extincted and destroyed in their churches, 
chapels, and houses, all images, all shrines, coverings of 
shrines, all tables, candlesticks, trindles, or rolls of wax, 
pictures, paintings, and all other monuments of feigned 
miracles, pilgrimages, idolatry, and superstition, so that ^5 
there remain no memory of the same in walls, glass 
windows, or elsewhere. 

Item, Whether they have exhorted, moved and stirred 
their parishioners to do the like in every of their houses. 

Item, Whether they have declared to their parish* 50 
ioners the articles concerning the abrogation of certain 
superfluous holy-days, and done their endeavour to per- 
suade the said parishioners to keep and observe the same 
articles inviolably; and whether any of those abrogate 
days have been kept as holy-days, and by whose occasion 35 
they were so kept. 



15470 Injunctions ffiven hy Edward VL 48 

Item, Whether they have diligently, duly, and reve- 
rently ministered the sacraments in their cures. 

Item, Whether they have preached, or caused to be 
preached purely and sincerely the word of God, in every 
5 of their cures, every quarter of the year, once at the 
least, exhorting their parishioners to works commanded 
by the scripture, and not to works devised by men's 
fantasies besides scripture, as wearing or praying upon 
beads, or such like. 

«o Item, Whether they suffer any torches, candles, tapers, 
or any other lights to be in your churches, but only two 
lights upon the high altar. 

Item, Whether they have not every holy-day, when 
they have no sermon, immediately after the Gospel, 

«5 openly, plainly and distinctly, recited to the parishioners 
in the pulpit, the " Pater noster,*' the Creed, and the Ten 
Commandments in English. 

Item, Whether every Lent they examine such persons 
as come to confession to them, whether they can recite 

«> the " Pater noster," the Articles of our faith, and the 
Ten Commandments in English. 

Item, Whether they have charged fathers and mothers, 
masters and governors of youth, to bring them up in 
some virtuous study and occupation. 

*5 Item, Whether such beneficed men, as be lawfully 
absent from their benefices, do leave their cure to a rude 
and unlearned person, and not an honest, well learned 
and expert curate, which can and will teach you whole- 
some doctrine. 

^ Item, Whether in every cure they have, they have 
provided one book of the whole Bible of the largest 
volume in English, and the Paraphrasis of Erasmus also 
in English upon the Gt)spels, and set up the same in 
some convenient place in the church, where their pa- 

35 rishioners may most commodiously' resort to the same. 
Item, Whether they have discouraged any person from 



44 Injunctions fftven by Edward VI, [X. 

reading of any part of the Bible, either in Latin or in 
English, but rather comforted and exhorted every person 
to read the same, as the very lively word of God, and 
the special food of man's soul. 

Item, Whether parsons, vicars, curates, and others 
priests, be common haunters and resorters to taverns or 
alehouses, giving themselves to drinking, rioting or play- 
ing at unlawful games, and do not occupy themselves 
in the reading or hearing of some part of holy scripture, 
or in some other godly exercise. w 

Item, Whether they have admitted any man to preach 
in their cures, not being lawfully licensed thereunto, 
or have refused or denied such to preach, as have been 
licensed accordingly. 

Item, Whether they which have heretofore declared «5 
to their parishioners, any thing to the extolling or setting 
forth of pilgrimages, relics or images, or lighting of 
candles, kissing, kneeling, decking of the same images, 
or any such superstition, have not openly recanted and 
reproved the same. «o 

Item, Whether they have one book or register safely 
kept, wherein they write the day of every wedding, 
christening and burying. 

Item, Whether they have exhorted the people to 
obedience to the king's majesty and his ministers, and to '5 
charity and love one to another. 

Item, Whether they have admonished their parish- 
ioners, that they ought not to presimie to receive the 
sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, before they 
can perfectly rehearse the " Pater noster," the Articles of 30 
the Faith, and the Ten Commandments in English. 

Item, Whether they have declared, and to their wits 
and power have persuaded the people, that the manner 
and kind of fasting in Lent, and other days in the year, 
is but a mere positive law, and that therefore all persons, 35 
having just cause of sickness, or other necessity, or b^ng 



'547'] Injunctions ffiven by Edtcard VI. 45 

licensed by the king's majesty, may moderately eat all 
kind of meats without grudge or scruple of conscience. 

Item, Whether they be resident upon their benefices, 
and keep hospitality or no; and if they be absent, or 
5 keep no hospitality, whether they do make due distri- 
butions among the poor parishioners or not. 

Item, Whether parsons, vicars, clerks, and other bene- 
ficed men, having yearly to dispend an hundred pound, 
do not find competently one scholar in the university of 
*<^ Cambridge or Oxford, or some grammar school, and for 
as many hundred pounds as every of them may dispend, 
so many scholars likewise to be found by them, and what 
be their names that they so find. 

Item, Whether proprietaries, parsons, vicars and clerks, 
'5 having churches, chapels or mansions, do keep their 
chancels, rectories, vicarages, and all other houses ap- 
pertaining to them in due reparations. 

Item, Whether they have counselled or moved their 

parishioners, rather to pray in a tongue not known, than 

>o in English, or to put their trust in a prescribed number 

of prayers, as in saying over a number of beads, or 

other like. 

Item, Whether they have read the king's majesty's 
injunctions every quarter of the year, the first holy-day 
^5 of the same quarter. 

Item, Whether the parsons, vicars, curates, and other 

priests being under the degree of a bachelor of divinity, 

have of their own the New Testament both in Latin 

and Elnglish, and the Paraphrase of Erasmus upon the 

30 same. 

Item, Whether within every church he that minis- 

tereth hath read or cause to be read the Epistle and 

Gospel in English, and not in Latin, either in the pulpit 

or some other meet place, so as the people may hear 

$s the same. 

Item, Whether every Sunday and holy-day at matins 



46 lujunctiofu given by Edward VI. [X. 

they have read or cause to be read, plainly and dis- 
tinctly in the said place, one chapter of the New Testa- 
ment in English, immediately after the Lessons, and at 
evensong after " Magnificat," one chapter of the Old 
Testament. 5 

Item, Whether they have not at matins omitted three 
lessons when nine should have been read in the church, 
and at evensong the responds with all the memories. 

Item, Whether they have declared to their parish- 
ioners, that Saint Mark's day, and the evens of theio 
abrogate holy-days should not be fasted. 

Item, Whether they have the procession book in 
English, and have said or sung the said litany in any 
other place but upon their knees in the midst of their 
church ; and whether they use any other procession, or 15 
omit the said litany at any time, or say it or sing it in 
such sort, as the people camiot understand the same. 

Item, Whether they have put out of their church 
books this word " papa," and the name and service of 
Thomas Becket, and prayers having rubrics, containing to 
pardons or indulgences, and all other superstitious legends 
and prayers. 

Item, Whether they bid not the beads according to 
the order appointed by the king's majesty. 

Item, Whether they have opened and declared unto n 
you the true use of ceremonies (that is to say) that they 
be no workers nor works of salvation, but only outward 
signs and tokens, to put us in remembrance of things of 
higher perfection. 

Item, Whether they have taught and declared to their 30 
parishioners, that they may with a safe and quiet con- 
science in the time of harvest, labour upon the holy and 
festival days, and if superstitiously they abstain from 
working upon those days, that then they do grievously 
offend and displease God. 35 

Item, Whether they have admitted any persons to the 



154^.] InJuHctians given by Edward VI, 47 

communion, being openly known to be out of charity 
with their neighbours. 

Item, Whether the deans, archdeacons, masters of 
hospitals, and prebendaries, have preached by themselves 
5 personally twice every year at the least. 

Item, Whether they have provided, and have a strong 
chest for the poor men's box, and set and fastened the 
same near to their high altar. 

Item, Whether they have diligently called upon, ex- 
10 horted and moved their parishioners, and specially when 
they make their testaments, to give to the said poor 
men's box, and to bestow that upon the poor chest, 
which they were wont to bestow upon pardons, pilgrim- 
ages, trentals, masses satisfactory, decking of images, 
15 offering of candles, giving to friars, and upon other like 
blind devotions. 

Item, Whether they have denied to visit the sick, or 
bury the dead being brought to the church. 

Item, Whether they have bought their benefices, or 
to come to them by fraud or deceit. 

Item, Whether they have every Sunday, when the 
people be most gathered, read one of the homilies, in 
order as they stand in the book, set forth by the king's 
majesty. 
'5 Item, Whether they do not omit prime and hours, 
when they have any sermon or homily. 

Item, Whether they have said or sung any mass, in 
any oratory, chapel, or any man's house, not being 
hallowed. 
p Item, Whether they have given open monition to 
their parishioners that they should not wear beads, nor 
jMny upon them. 

Item, Whether they have moved their parishioners, 
lying upon their death-beds, or at any other time, to 
3$ bestow any part of their substance upon trentals, masses 
satisfiEU^tory, or any such blind devotions. 



48 Tnjtmcticm given hy Edward VI. [X. 

Item, Whether they take any trentals or other masses 
satisfactory to say or sing for the quick or the dead. 

Item, Whether they have given open monition to 
their parishioners to detect and present to their ordinary 
all adulterers and fornicators, and such men as have two 5 
wives living, and such women as have two husbands 
living within their parishes. 

Item, Whether they have not monished their pa- 
rishioners openly, that they should not sell, give, nor 
otherwise alienate any of their churches' goods. lo 

Item, Whether they, or any of them do keep more 
benefices, and other ecclesiastical promotions than they 
ought to do, not having sufficient license and dispen- 
sations thereunto, and how many they be, and their 
names. 15 

Item, Whether they minister the communion any 
other ways than only after such form and manner as 
is set forth by the king's majesty in the book of the 
commimion. 

Item, Whether they hallowed and delivered to the «o 
people any candles upon Candlemas-day, and ashes upon 
Ash- Wednesday, or any palms upon Palm-Sunday last 
past. 

Item, Whether they had upon Good-Friday last past, 
the sepulchres with their lights, having the sacrament *5 
therein. 

Item, Whether they upon Easter-even last past hal- 
lowed the font, fire or paschal, or had any paschal set 
up, or burning in their churches. 

Item, Whether your parsons and vicars have admitted ^ 
any curates to serve their cures, which were not first 
examined and allowed either by my lord of Canterbury, 
master archdeacon, or their officers. 

Item, ^Vhether you know any person within your 
parish, or elsewhere, that is a letter of the word of God ^s- 
to be read in English, or sincerely preached, or of the' 



'547*] Infundums pif>en by Edward VL 49 

execution of the king's majesty's injunctions, or other 
his majesty's proceedings in matters of religion. 

Item, Whether every parish have provided a chest 
vrith two locks for the book of wedding, christening 
5 and burying. 

Item, Whether in the time of the litany, or any other 

common prayer in the time of the sermon or homily, and 

when the priest readeth the scripture to the parishioners, 

any person have departed out of the church without a 

lo just and necessary cause. 

Item, Whether any bells have been knowled or rung 
at the time of the premisses. 

Item, Whether any person hath abused the cere- 
monies, as in casting holy water upon his bed, or bearing 
■5 about him holy bread, St. John's Gospel, ringing of holy 
bells, or keeping of private holy-days, as taylors, bakers, 
brewers, smiths, shoemakers, and such other. 

Item, Whether the money coming and rising of any 

cattle, or other movable stocks of the church, and 

M money given or bequeathed to the finding of torches, 

lights, tapers or lamps (not paid out of any lands) have 

not been employed to the poor men's chest. 

Item, Who hath the said stocks and money in their 
hands, and what be their names. 
«5 Item, Whether any undiscreet persons do uncharitably 
contemn and abuse priests and ministers of the church. 

Item, Whether they that understand not the Latin, do 

pray upon any primer, but the English primer, set forth 

by the king's majesty's authority ; and whether they that 

30 understand Latin, do use any other than the Latin 

primer, set forth by like authority. 

Item, Whether there be any other grammar taught in 
any other school within this diocese, than that which is 
set forth by the king's majesty. 
35 Item, Whether any person keep their church holy- 

VOL. I. E 



50 Injunctions given by Edward VI. [X. 

day, and the dedication day, any otherwise, or at any 
other time than is appointed by the king's majesty. 

Item, Wliether the service in the church be done at 
due and convenient hours. 

Item, Whether any have used to commune, jangle» s 
and talk in the church in the time of the common 
prayer, reading of the homily, preaching, reading or 
declaring of the scripture. 

Item, Whether any have wilfully maintained and de- 
fended any heresies, errors or false opinions, contraiy to lo 
the faith of Christ, and holy scripture. 

Item, Whether any be common drunkards, swearers 
or blasphemers of the name of God. 

Item, Whether any have committed adultery, fornica- 
tion, or incest, or be common bawds, and receivers of »5 
such evil persons, or vehemently suspected of any of the 
premisses. 

Item, Whether any be brawlers, slanderers, chiders, 
scolders, and sowers of discord between one person and 
another. ao 

Item, Whether you know any that use charms^ 
sorcery, enchantments, witchcraft, soothsaying, or any 
like craft invented by the devil. 

Item, Whether the churches, pulpits, and other 
necessaries appertaining to the same, be sufficiently 15 
repaired. 

Item, Whether you know any that in contempt of 
your own parish church, do resort to any other church. 

Item, Whether any innholders or alehouse keepers do 
use commonly to sell meat and drink in the time of 30 
common prayer, preaching, or reading of the homiKes, 
or scripture. 

Item, Whether you know any to be married within 
the degrees prohibited by the laws of God, or that be 
separated or divorced without a just cause, allowed by 35 



1548.] InJuneHans given hy Edward VI. 51 

the law of God, and whether any such have married 
again. 

Item, Whether you know any to have made privy 
contracts of matrimony, not calling two or more there* 
5 unto. 

Item, Whether they have married solemnly, the banns 
not first lawfully asked. 

Item, Whether you know any executors or adminis- 
trators of dead men's goods, which do not bestow such 
10 of the said goods, as were given and bequeathed, or 
appointed to be distributed among the poor people, re- 
pairing of high ways, finding of poor scholars, or marrying 
of poor maids, or such other like charitable deeds. 

Item, Whether any do contemn married priests, and 
15 for that they be married, will not receive the communion 
or other sacraments at their hands. 

Item, Whether you know any that keep in their 
houses undefticed, any abused or feigned images, any 
tables, pictures, paintings, or other monuments of feigned 
•o miracles, pilgrimages, idolatry, or superstition. 



XL 

Vwgm Rom. Ardiiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi R«g. Aiigli» 

Paul. 111. 14. Tbo. Chakmer. 16. 1548. Edward. VI. ». 

A letter sent to aU those preachers which the king's ma-^ 
jesty haih licensed to preachy from the lord protector's 
gracCy and other of the king^s majesty's most honourable 
council, the I3th day of May. in the second year of the 
reign of our sovereign lord king Edward VI. Ex 
Burnet Hist. Reform, vol. ii. app. pag. 130. 

A FTER our right hearty commendations, as well for 
the conservation of the quietness and good order of 

A letter sent to all those] In the proclamation of the preceding 
Febroary (N®. VII.) licenses were allowed to be given to preachers 
from the king, the king's visitors, the archbishop or the bishops within 

E 2 



52 Injunctions given hy Edward VI. [XI. 

the king's majesty's subjects, as that they should not by 
evil and unlearned preachers be brought unto super- 
stition, error, or evil doctrine, or otherwise be made 
stubborn and disobedient to the king's majesty's godly 
proceedings ; his highness, by our advice, hath thought 5 
good to inhibit all manner of preachers, who have not 
such license as in the same proclamation is allowed, to 
preach or stir the people in open and common preach- 
ings of sermons, by any means, that the devout and 
godly homilies might the better in the meanwhile sink la 
into his subjects' hearts, and be learned the sooner, the 
people not being tossed to and fro with seditious and 
contentious preaching, while every man according to his 
zeal, some better, some worse, goeth about to set out 
his own fantasy, and to draw the people to his opinion. 15 
Nevertheless it is not his majesty's mind, hereby clearly 
to extinct the lively teaching of the word of God by 
sermons made after such sort, as for the time the Holy 
Ghost shall put into the preacher's mind ; but that rash^ 
contentious, hot and undiscreet preachers should be *> 
stopped, and that they only, which be chosen and elect, 
be discreet and sober men, should occupy that place 

their respective dioceses. In a proclamation of the 24th of April 
(see Strype*s Mem. V. 2. P. i. p. 142.) this power of licensing was 
given exclusively to the king, to the protector and the archbishop of 25 
Canterbury; and this letter of the council, dated May 13, was ad- 
dressed to all preachers so licensed by the king or the protector. But 
disturbances still continued; and another proclamation, bearing date 
September 23rd in the same year, and referring to the previous pro- 
clamation of April 24th (see N^. XIII.), cancelled the licenses of 30 
whatever kind previously given, and prohibited all preaching for the 
future, until one uniform order should be had throughout the realm. 
" So thzt now," says Strype, (Mem. v. ii. P. i. p. 142.) " no bishop 
might license any to preach in his own diocese, nay, nor might preach 
himself without license : so I have seen licenses to preach granted to 35 
the bishop of Exeter, an. 1551. and to the bishops of Lincoln and 
Chichester, an. i 552." Lingard. iv. v. p. 386. n. Sharp on the Rubric, 
p. 148. 



154^] * Injunctions given by Edward VI, 53 

which was made for edification and not for destruction, 
for the honour of God and peace, and quietness of con- 
science, to be set forward, not for private glory to be 
advanced, to appease, to teach, to instruct the people 
5 with humility, and patience, not to make them conten- 
tious and proud, to instil into them their duty to their 
heads and rulers, obedience to laws and orders, appointed 
by the superiors, who have rule of God, nor that every 
man should run before their heads hath appointed them 

«o what to do, and that every man should choose his own 
way in religion. The which thing yet being done of 
some men, and they being rather provoked thereto by 
certain preachers, than dehorted from it, it was necessary 
to set a stay therein. And yet forasmuch as we have 

15 a great confidence and trust in you, that you will not 
only preach truly and sincerely the word of God, but 
also will use circumspection and moderation in your 
preaching, and such godly wisdom, as shall be necessary 
and most convenient for the time and place, we have 

20 sent unto you the king's majesty's license to preach, but 
yet with this exhortation and admonishment, that in no- 
wise you do stir and provoke the people to any altera- 
tion or innovation, other than is already set forth by the 
king's majesty's injunctions, homilies, and proclamations ; 

n but contrariwise, that you do in all your sermons exhort 
men to that which is at this time more necessary, that 
is, to the emendation of their own lives, to the observ- 
ance of the commandments of God, to humility, patience 
and obedience to their heads and rulers, comforting the 

JO weak and teaching them the right way, and to flee all 
old, erroneous superstitions, as the confidence in pardon, 
pilgrimages, beads, religious images, and other such of 
the bishop of Rome's traditions and superstitions, with 
his usurped power, the which thing be here in this realm 

35 most justly abolished ; and straitly rebuking those, who 
of an arrogancy and proud hastiness will take upon them 

E 3 



54 Injunctions given by Edtoard VI. * [XL 

to run before they be sent, to go before the rulers, to 
alter and change things in religion without authority, 
teaching them to expect and tarry the time which God 
hath ordained to the revealing of all truth, and not to 
seek so long blindly and hidlings after it, till they bring 5 
all orders into contempt. It is not a private man's duty 
to alter ceremonies, to innovate orders in the church, 
nor yet it is not a preacher's part to bring that into con- 
tempt and hatred, which the prince doth either allow or 
is content to suffer. The king's highness by our advice, " 
as a prince most earnestly given to the true knowledge 
of God, and to bring up his people therein, doth not 
cease to labour and travail by all godly means, that his 
realm might be brought and kept in a most godly and 
Christian order, who only may and ought to do it ; why is 
should a private man or a preacher take this royal and 
kingly office upon him, and not rather, as his duty is, 
obediently follow himself, and teach likewise others to 
follow and observe that which is commanded ? What is 
abolished, taken away, reformed and commanded it is 20 
easy to see by the acts of parliament, the injunctions, 
proclamations, and homilies ; the which things most 
earnestly it behoveth all preachers in their sermons to 
confirm, and approve accordingly ; in other things, which 
be not yet touched, it behoveth him to think, that either 15 
the prince did allow them, or else suffer them, and in 
those it is the part of a godly man, not to thmk himself 
wiser than the king's majesty and his council, but pa- 
tiently to expect and to conform himself thereto, and 
not to intermeddle further to the disturbance of a realm, 3* 
the disquieting of the king's people, the troubling of 
men's consciences, and disorder of the king's subjects. 

These things we have thought good to admonish you 
of at this time, because we think you will set the same 
so forward in your preaching, and so instruct the king's 35 
majesty's people according to the most advancement of 



154^0 In/tmetions given hy Edward VI. ^ 

the glory of God, and the king's majesty's most godly 
proceedings, that we do not doubt but much profit shall 
ensue thereby, and great conformity in the people, the 
which you do instruct, and so we pray you not to fail to 

5 do, and having a special regard to the weakness of the 
people, what they may bear and what is most convenient 
for the time, in no case to intermeddle in your sermons, 
or otherwise, with matters in contention or controversion, 
except it be to reduce the people in them also to obedi- 

«o ence, and following of such orders, as the king's majesty 
hath already set forth, and no other, as the king's ma- 
jesty's and our trust is in you, and as you tender his 
highness' will and pleasure, and will answer to the con- 
trary at your peril 

15 Fare you well. 

June 1, 1548. 



XII. 

Pape Rom. Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi R<^. Angli» 

Paul. III. 14. Tuo. Crahmek. 16. 1548. Kdward. VI. 2. 

Injunctions given by the king^s majesty's visitors to all and 
every the clergy and laity now resident within the 
deanery of Duncastre, — Ex MS. Johnson apud Burnet 
Hist. Reform, vol. 2. app. pag. 126. 

"VrOU shall not hereafter in the pulpit, or elsewhere, 
on the Sunday or any other day, give knowledge 
to your parishioners, when or what day in the week any 
wof the abrogate holy-days were solemnized or kept in 
the church, but omit the same with silence, as other 
working days for the utter abolishing of the remem- 
brance thereof. 

InjunctioM ghen] Burnet, H. R. vol. ii. p. 121. Collier, vol. ii. 
p. 241. 

E 4 



56 Injtmctions given by Edward VI. [XII. 

Item, You shall teach your parishioners, that fasting 
in the Lent and other days is a mere positive, that is to 
say, man's law, and by the magistrates upon consider- 
ations may be altered, changed, and dispensed with ; 
and that therefore all persons having just cause of sick- * 
ness or other necessity, or being licensed thereto, may 
temperately eat all kinds of meats without scruple or 
grudge of conscience. 

Item, You shall every day, that an high mass is said 
or sung at the high altar, before the same mass read lo 
openly in your churches the English suflfrages, for the 
preservation and safeguard of the king's majestjr's people, 
and prosperous success of his a&irs. 

Item, You shall every Sunday, at the time of your 
going about the church with holy water, into three or 15 
four places, where most audience and assembly of people 
is, for the declaration of the ceremonies, say distinctly 
and plainly, that your parishioners may well hear and 
perceive the same, these words : " remember Christ's 
bloodshedding, by the which most holy sprinkling of 10 
all your sins you have free pardon." And in like man- 
ner before the dealing of the holy bread these words : 
" of Christ's body this is a token, which on the cross 
for our sins was broken ; wherefore of his death if you 
will be partakers, of vice and sin you must be forsakers." 15 
And the clerk in the like manner shall bring down the 
pax, and standing without the church door, shall say 
boldly to the people these words : " this is a token of 
jojrful peace, which is betwixt God and men's conscience ; 
Christ alone is the peacemaker, which straitly com-^ 
mands peace between brother and brother." And so 
long as ye use these ceremonies, so long shall ye use 
these significations. 

Item, The churchwardens of every parish church 
shall some one Sunday, or other festival day, every 35 
month, go about the church and make request to every 



1548.] Injunctions given by Edward VI. 57 

of the parish for their charitable contributions to the 
poor, and the sum so collected, shall be put in the chest 
of alms, for that purpose provided ; and for as much as 
the parish clerk shall not hereafter go about the parish 
5 with his holy water, as hath been accustomed, he shall 
instead of that labour accompany the said churchwar- 
dens, and in a book register the name and sum of every 
man that giveth any thing to the poor, and the same 
shall intable, and against the next day of collection 

>o shall hang up somewhere in the church, in open place, 
to the intent the poor having knowledge thereby, by 
whose charity and alms they be relieved, may pray for 
the increase and prosperity of the same. 

Item, The churchwardens for the better relief of 

15 honest poverty, shall upon sufficient surety found for 
the repayment of the same, lend to some young married 
couple, or some poor inhabitants of the parish, some 
part of the said alms, whereby they may buy some kind 
of stuff; by the working, sale, and gains whereof, they 

20 may repay the sum borrowed, and also well relieve 
themselves ; or else the said churchwardens to buy the 
stuff themselves and pay the poor for the working 
thereof, and after sale of the same, to return the sum 
with the gain to the said chest, there to remain to such 

15 like use. 

Item, Forasmuch as heretofore you have not by any 
means, diligence or study, advanced yourselves unto 
knowledge in God's word, and his scriptures, condignly 
as appertaineth to priests and dispensators of God's tes- 

30 tament ; to the intent you may hereafter be of better 
ability to discharge yourselves towards God and your 
offices to the world, you shall daily for your own study 
and knowledge, read over diligently and weigh with 
judgment twd chapters of the new testament, and one 

55 of the old in English, and the same shall put in ure and 



58 Injunctions ffiven hy Edward VI. [XIII. 

practice, as well in living as preaching, at times conve- 
nient, when occasion is given. 

Item, Forasmuch as drunkenness, idleness, brawls, dis- 
sension, and many other inconveniences do chance be- 
tween neighbour and neighbour, by the assembly of 5 
people together at wakes, and on the plough Mondays ; 
it is therefore ordered and enjoyned, that hereafter the 
people shall use, make, or observe no more such wakes, 
plough Mondays, or drawing of the same with any such 
assembly or rout of people, or otherwise, as hath been 10 
accustomed, upon pain of forfeiting to the king's high- 
ness forty shillings for every default, to be paid by the 
owner of the plough and householder, whereunto the 
said plough is drawn, or wakes are kept. 

The names of the visitors, '5 

Sir John Markham, Roger Tongue, 

John Hearn, Will. Moreton, 

Tho. Gargrave, Edm. Farely, 



XIII. 

Papae Rom. Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi R^- Anglie 

Paul. IU. 14. Tho. Crakmer. 16. 1548. Edward. VI. 3. 

A proclamation for the inhibition of all preachers ; the 
second of Edward the Sivthy Sept. 23. — Ex Fuller 
Ch. Hist. lib. 7. pag. 388. 

VXTHEREAS of late by reason of certain controver- 
sions and seditious preachers, the king's majesty to 

A proclamation] On this proclamation Bp. Burnet observes, (H. R. 
vol. ii. p. 167.) "I never met with any footstep of it, neither in 
records, nor in letters, nor in any book written at that time. But 
Mr. Fuller has printed it^ and Dr. Heylin has given an abstract of it 
from him." CoUier also quotes it without suspicion, v. ii. p. 26a. t$ 



^548-] Injunctions given by Edward VI. 59 

moved of tender zeal and love, which he hath to the 
quiet of the subjects, by the advice of the lord pro- 
tector, and other his highness' council, hath by proclama- 
tion inhibited and commanded, that no manner of per- 
5 son, except such as was licensed by his highness, the 
lord protector, or by the archbishop of Canterbury, 
should take upon him to preach, in any open audience, 
upon pain in the said proclamation contained, and that 
upon hope and assurance, that those being chosen and 

«> elect men should preach and set forth only to the peo- 
ple such things, as should be to God's honour, and the 
benefit of the king's majesty's subjects ; yet nevertheless 
his highness is advertised, that certain of the said 
preachers so licensed not regarding such good admoni- 

«s tions, as have been by the lord protector and the rest 
of the council on his majesty's behalf by letters or 
otherwise given unto them, have abused the said autho- 
rity of preaching, and behaved themselves irreverently, 
and \iithout good order in the said preachings, contrary 

TO to such good instructions and advertisements, as were 
given unto them, whereby much contention and disorder 
might rise and ensue in this his majesty's realm : where- 
fore his highness minding to see very shortly one uni- 
form order throughout this his realm, and to put an end 

25 to all controversies in religion, so far as God should give 
grace (for which cause at this time certain bishops and 
notable learned men, by his highness' commandment, are 
congregate) hath by the advice aforesaid, thought good, 
although certain and many of the said preachers so be- 

30 fore licensed, have behaved themselves very discreetly and 
wisely, and to the honour of God and to his highness' 
contentation ; yet at this present and until such time as 
the said order shall be set forth generally, throughout 
his majesty's realm, to inhibit and by these presents do 

3S inhibit generally as well the said preachers, so before 
licensed, as all manner of persons whosoever they be, 



60 Injunctions given by Edicard VI. [XIV. 

to preach in open audience, in the pulpit or otherwise, 
by any sought colour or fraud, to the disobeying of this 
commandment, to the intent, that the whole clergy in 
this mean space might apply themselves to prayer to 
almighty God for the better achieving of the same most 5 
godly intent and purpose ; not doubting but that also his 
loving subjects in the mean time will occupy themselves 
to God's honour, with due prayer in the church, and 
patient hearing of the godly homilies, heretofore set 
forth by his highness' injunctions unto them, and so en- lo 
deavour themselves that they may be the more ready 
with thankful obedience to receive a most quiets godly 
and uniform order to be had throughout all his said 
realms and dominions ; and therefore hath willed all his 
loving officers and ministers, as well justices of peace, 15 
as mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables, or any other his 
officers, of what estate, degree, or condition soever they 
be, to be attendant upon this proclamation, and com- 
mandment, and to see the infringers or breakers thereof 
to be imprisoned, and his highness or the lord protector's 20 
grace, or his majesty's council to be certified thereof 
immediately, as they tender his majesty's pleasure, and 
will answer to the contrary at their peril. 



XIV. 

Papse Koin. AiThie}»is(!. Cant. Anno ('hristi Reg. Aiigli« 

Paul. III. 15. Tho. Chanmer. 17. 15|H. Edward. VI. 3. 

Letter missive from the council to the bishops of the realfn^ 
concerning the communion to be ministered in both kinds. 
Ex ii. Fox. p. 659. 

A FTER our most hearty commendations unto your 
lordship. Where in the parliament late holden>5 

Letter missive'] *' The Order of the Communion," having previously 
been approved by the Convocation, and authorized bv Act of PMia- 



I 



'5480 Injunctions aiven by Edtpard VI. 61 

at Westminster it was amongst other things most godly 
established, that according to the first institution and 
use of the primitive church, the most holy sacrament 
of the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, should 
5 be distributed to the people under the kinds of bread 
and wine; according to the effect whereof the king's 
majesty minding with the advice and consent of the lord 
protector's grace, and the rest of the council, to have 
the said statute well executed in such sort, or like as is 

lo agreeable with the word of God (so the same may be 
also faithfully and reverently received of his most loving 
subjects, to their comforts and wealth) hath caused 
sundry of his majesty's most grave and well learned 
prelates, and other learned men in the scripture, to 

15 assemble themselves for this matter, who after long 
conference together have with deliberate advice, finally 
agreed upon such an order to be used in all places of 
the king's majesty's dominions, in the distribution of 
the said most holy sacrament, as may appear to you by 

«o the book thereof, which we send herewith unto you ; 
albeit knowing your lordship's knowledge in the scrip- 
tures, and earnest good will and zeal to the setting forth 
of all things, according to the truth thereof, we be well 
assured you will of your own good will, and upon respect 

35 to your duty, diligently set forth this most godly order 
here agreed upon, and commanded to be used by the 
authority of the king's majesty; yet remembering the 
crafty practice of the devil, who ceases not by his mem- 
bers to work by all ways and means the hinderance of 

50 all godliness ; and considering furthermore, that a great 
number of the curates of the realm either for lack of 

ment, was printed by Grafton on the 8th of March, 1548, and accom- 
panied by a proclamation enjoining the general use of it. See ** The 
two Liturgies of King Edward VI. compared," pp. vii. and 425. The 
35 Letter missive required that it should be uniformly used at the ensuing 
Easter. 



62 Injunctions given hy Edward VI. [XIV. 

knowledge cannot, or for want of good mind will not, 
be so ready to set forth the same, as we would wish, 
and as the importance of the matter and their own 
bounden duty requires, we have thought good to pray 
and require your lordship, and nevertheless in the king's 5 
majesty, our most dread lord's name, to command you 
to have an earnest diligence and careful respect both in 
your own person, and by all your officers and ministers, 
also to cause these books to be delivered to every parson, 
vicar and curate, within yoiu* diocese, with such dili- lo 
gence, as they may have sufficient time well to instruct 
and advise themselves, for the distribution of the most 
holy communion, according to the order of this book, 
before this Easter time, and that they may by your good 
means be well directed to use such good, gentle, and 's 
charitable instruction, of their simple and unlearned 
parishioners, as may be to all their good satisfactions, 
as much as may be ; praying you to consider, that this 
order is set forth, to the intent there should be in all 
parts of this realm, and among all men, one uniform ao 
manner quietly used, the execution whereof like as it 
shall stand very nmch in the diligence of you and others 
of your vocation, so do we eftsoons require you to have 
a diligent respect thereunto, as ye tender the king's 
majesty's pleasure, and will answer for the contrary, as 
And thus we bid your lordship right heartily fiarewel. 

From Westm. the thirteenth of March, 1548. 
Your lordship's loving friends, 

Tho. Canterbury, Anthony Wingfield, 

R. Rich, William Petre, 30 

WiL. Saint John, Edward North, 

John Russell, Edward Wooton- 
Henry Arundell, 



1549-] I»fundioHS given hy Edward VI. 68 



XV. 

Pap8B Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angliae 

Paul. III. 15. Tho. Cranmeb. 17. 1549. Edward. VI. 3. 

Articles to be followed and observed according to the kin^s 
majesty's injunctions and proceedings. Ex MS. John- 
son apud Burnet, Hist. Reform, vol. ii. app. p. 165. 



1. T^HAT all parsons, vicars and curates omit in the 
reading of the injunctions, all such as make 
mention of the popish mass, of chantries, of candles upoii 
the altar, or any other such like thing. 

5 2. Item, For an uniformity, that no minister do coun- 
terfeit the popish mass, as to kiss the Lord's table; 
washing his fingers at every time in the communion ; 
blessing his eyes with the paten, or sudary ; or crossing 
his head with the paten ; shifting of the book from one 

lo place to another; laying down and licking the chalice 
of the communion; holding up his fingers, hands, or 

Articles to be followed] Instructions given in charge to the visitors 
on a new royal visitation, and differing in some respects from the 
former Injunctions : for instance, in the Injunctions, (No. II.) and in 

15 Cranmer's Articles founded upon them, (No. X.) two lights were 
allowed upon the high altar; in these Articles it is forbidden that 
there should be any " candles upon the altar," or " any light upon the 
Lord's board at any time." See also Bp. Ridley's Injunctions, No. 
XXL, and Burnet, H. R. v. ii. p. 209. It is clear that these Articles 

10 were drawn up after the Act of Uniformity had passed, (Jan. 2 1 , 1549,) 
which enjoined that the new (the first) Book of Common Prayer should 
be used from the following Whitsunday ; as may be shewn from the 
eighth Article, which was taken from the following rubric of that 
book : " The curate of every parish, once in six weeks at the least, 

3j upon warning by him given, shall, upon some Sunday or holy-day, 
half an hour before evensong, openly in the church instruct and 
examine so many children of his parish sent unto him, as the time 
wiU serve, and as he shall think convenient, in some part of this 
Catechism." The two Lit. of King Edward VI. compared, p. 351. 



64 Injunctions given by Edward VI. [XV. 

thumbs, joined towards his temples ; breathing upon the 
bread or chalice ; shewing the sacrament openly before 
the distribution of the communion ; ringing or sacrymg 
bells ; or setting any light upon the Lord's board at 
any time ; and finally to use no other ceremonies than 5 
are appointed in the king's book of common prayers, or 
kneeling, otherwise than is in the said book. 

3. Item, That none buy or sell the holy communion, 
as in trentals and such other. 

4. Item, That none be suffered to pray upon beads, i© 
and so the people to be diligently admonished, and such 
as will not be admonished, to be put from the holy 
communion. 

5. Item, That after the homily, every Sunday, the 
minister exhort the people, especially the communicants, 15 
to remember the poor men's box with their charity. 

6. Item, To receive no corpse, but at the churchyard, 
without bell or cross. 

7. Item, That the common prayer upon Wednesdays 
and Fridays be diligently kept, according to the king's 10 
ordinances, exhorting such as may conveniently come 
to be there. 

8. Item, That the curates, every sixth week at the 
least, teach and declare diligently the catechism, accord- 
ing to the book of the same. 15 

9. Item, Tliat no man maintain purgatory, invocation 
of saints, the six articles, beadroUs, images, relics, lights, 
holy bells, holy beads, holy water, palms, ashes, candles, 
sepulchres, paschal, creeping to the cross, hallowing of the 
font of the popish manner, oil, chrism, altars, beads, or 30 
any other such abuses, and superstitions, contrary to the 
king's majesty's proceedings. 

10. Item, That within any church or chapel be not 
used any more than one communion, upon any day, 
except Christmas day and Easter day. 35 

11. Item, That none keep the abrogate holy-days 



'549-] InjunctioKB given hy Edward VL 65 

other than those that have their proper and peculiar 
service. 

18. Item, That the churchwardens suffer no buying 
or selling, gaming, or unfitting demeanour in church or 
5 churchyards, especially during the conmion prayer, the 
sermon, and reading of the homily. 

13. Item, That going to the sick with the sacrament 
the minister have not with him either light or bells. 



XVI. 

Paps Rocn. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglis 

Paul. III. 15. Tho. Cranmer. 17. '549- Edward. VI. 3. 

The councirs letter to bishop Bonner for reformation of 
certain masses at St. PauCs, Ex Heylin Hist. Reform, 
p. 74, et vol. ii. Fox. p. 661. ed. 1641. 

A FTER hearty commendations, having very credible 
to notice that within that your cathedral church there 

be as yet the apostles' mass and our lady's mass, and 
other masses of such peculiar names under the defence 
and commination of our lady's communion, and the 
apostles' communion, used in private chapels, and other 
15 remote places of the same, and not in the chancel, con- 
trary to the king's majesty's proceedings, the same being 
for the misuse displeasing to God, for the place Paul's 
in example not tolerable, for the fondness of the name 
a scorn to the reverence of the communion of the Lord's 
»o body and blood ; we for the augmentation of God's ho- 
nour and glory, and the consonance of his majesty's laws, 
and the avoiding of murmur, have thought good to will 
and conmmnd you, that from henceforth no such masses 
in this manner be in your church any longer used, but 

«5 The council*s letter^ Burnet, H. R. v. 2. p. 21 1. 

VOL. I. F 



66 Injfjmctiom given by Edward VI. [XVII. 

that the holy blessed communion, according to the act 
of parliament, be ministered at the high altar of the 
church, and in no other places of the same, and only at 
such time, as your high masses were wont to be used; 
except some number of people desire (for their necessary 5 
business) to have a communion in the morning, and yet 
the same to be executed at the chancel at the high 
altar, as it is appointed in the book of the public service, 
without cautele or digression from the common order; 
and herein you shall not only satisfy our expectation of "o 
your conformity in all lawful things, but also avoid the 
murmur of sundry, that be therewith justly offended, and 
so we bid your lordship heartily fiarewell. 

From Richmond, the 24th of June, 1549- 

Your loving friends, «5 

E. Somerset, R. Rich, Chanc. 

W. Saint John, Fr. Shrewsbury, 
E. Montague, W. Cecil. 



XVII. 

Papte Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christ! R«g. Angfin 

Paul. III. 15. Tho. Crakmer. 1 7. i549* Edward. VI. 3. 

Another letter directed by the king and his council to 
Bonner^ bishop of London, partly rebuking him of 
negligence, partly charging him to see to the better set- 
ting out of the service book within his diocese. Ex 
vol. ii. Fox. p. 663. 

"D IGHT reverend fether in God, right trusty and well 
beloved, we greet you well ; and whereas after great w 

Another letter] Compare Strype's Cranm. vol. i. pp. 276 and 292. 



^549-] Injunctions given hy Edward VL 67 

and serious debating and long conference of the bishops 
and other grave and well learned men in the holy scrip- 
ture, one uniform order for common prayers and admini- 
stration of the sacraments hath been, and is most godly 

5 set forth, not only by the common agreement and full 
assent of the nobility and commons of the late session 
of our late parliament, but also by the like assent of the 
bishops in the said parliament, and of all other the 
learned men of this our realm in their sjTiods and convo- 

lo cations provincial, like as it was much to our comfort to 
understand the godly travail then diligently and willingly 
taken for the true opening of things mentioned in the 
said book, whereby the true service and honour of 
Almighty God and the right ministration of the sacra- 

15 ments being well and sincerely set forth, according to 
the scriptures and use of the primitive church, much 
idolatry, vain superstition, and great and slanderous 
abuses be taken away: so it is no small occasion of 
sorrow unto us to understand by the complaints of 

2omany, that our said book so much travelled for, and 
also sincerely set forth (as is aforesaid) remaineth in 
many places of this our realm either not known at all, 
or not used, or at the least, if it be used, very seldom, 
and that in such light and irreverent sort, as the ])eople 

25 in many places either have heard nothing, or if they 
hear, they neither understand, nor have that spiritual 
delectation in the same, that to good Christians apper- 
taineth : the fault thereof like as we must of reason 
impute to you, and other of your vocation called by God, 

30 through our appointment, to due respect to this and such 
like matters, so considering that by these and such like 
occasions, our loving subjects remain yet still in their 
blindness and superstitious errors, and in some places in 
as irreligious forgetfulness of God, whereby his wrath 

35 may be provoked upon us and them, and remembering 
withal, that amongst other cures committed to our 

F 2 



68 Infunctians given by Edward VI. [XVII. 

princely charge, we think this the greatest, to see the 
glory and true service of him maintained and extolled, 
by whose clemency we knowledge ourselves to have all 
that we have, we could not but by advice and consent 
of our dearest uncle Edward duke of Somerset, governor 5 
of our person, and protector of our realms, dominions, 
and subjects, and the rest of our privy council, admonish 
you of the premisses. Wherein, as it hath been your 
office to have used an earnest diligence, and to have 
preferred the same in all places, within your diocese, as i© 
the case required, so have we thought good to pray and 
require you and netherless straitly to charge and com- 
mand you, that from henceforth ye have an earnest and 
special regard to the reduce of these things, so as the 
curates may do their duties more often and in more 15 
reverend sort, and the people be occasioned by the good 
advices and examples of yourself, your chancellors, arch- 
deacons, and other inferior ministers, to come with 
oftener and more devotion to their said common prayers, 
to give thanks to God, and to be partakers of the most «© 
holy communion; wherein shewing yourselves diligent 
and giving good example in your own person you shall 
both discharge your duty to the great pastor, to whom 
we all have to account, and also do us good service; 
and on the other side, if we shall hereafter (these our«s 
letters and commandment notwithstanding) hear eft^soons 
complaint, and find the like fault in your diocese, we 
shall have just cause to impute the fault thereof, and of 
all that ensueth thereof, unto you, and consequently be 
occasioned thereby to see otherwise to the redress of 30 
these things, whereof we would be sorry ; and therefore 
we do eftnoons charge and command you, upon your 
allegiance to look well upon your duty herein, as ye 
tender our pleasure. Given under our signet at our 
manor of Richmond, the S8rd day of July, the third 35 
year of our reign^ 1549. 



'5490 Injunctwm given by Edward VI. 69 



XVIII. 

PkpcB Rom. Archiepisc Cant. Anno Chrisd Reg. Anglias 

Paul. III. 15. Tho. Cranmer. 17. i549> Edward. VI. 3. 

Commissio regia ThonuB archiepiscopo Canttmriend et 
aliis ad esaminandum materiam verstcs Edinundum 
episcopum London. Ex Rot. Pat. 8 Ed. VI. p. 11. m. 
8. dor. apud Rymer feeder, vol. v. p. 191. 

"C^DWARD the syxte, &c. To the most reverend 

father in God Thomas archbishop of Canterbury, 

metropolitan and primate of all England, the right 

reverend father in God, Nicholas bishop of Rochester, 

5 Commissio regia] ** The great intent of this commission was to 
examine him [Bp. Bonner] concerning a sermon which was appointed 
him by the council to preach touching the king's authority in his 
tender age to administer the government and make laws. In which 
the bishop prevaricated, not speaking home to that necessary point to 

lo the satis£Eu;tion of the people, but nmning out upon the subject of the 
real presence. Concerning which, when the commissioners could not 
bring him to confess whether in that sermon he omitted that article 
or no, shifting it off by his uncertain speeches, other articles were 
drawn up for him to answer to by oath." Strype, Smithy p. 38. 

15 Similar instructions as to preaching had been given in June, 1548, to 
Bp. Gardiner by the protector Somerset in the foUowing words : " Our 
express pleasure and commandment, on our sovereign lord the king's 
majesty's behalf, charging you by the authority of the same, to abstain 
in foresaid sermon, from treating of any matter in controversy con* 

to ceming the said sacrament and the mass ; and only to bestow your 
speech in the expert explication of the articles prescribed unto you, and 
in other wholesome matters of obedience of the people and good con- 
versation and living ; the same matters being both large enough for a 
long sermon, and not unnecessary for the time; and the treaty of 

35 other^ which we forbid you, not meet in your private sermon to be had, 
but necessarily reserved for a public consultation, and at this present 
utterly to be forborne for the common quiet." Burnet, H. R. v. ii. 
p. 143. and P. 2. p. 219. Wilkins's Cone. v. iv. p. 28. Comp. Collier, 
V. ii. p, 278. 

f3 



70 Injtmctians given by Edward VI. [XVIII- 

our trusty and right well beloved councellours, syr 
William Petres, and syr Thomas Smyth, knights, our 
two principal secretaries, and William May doctor of 
the law civil and dean of Paules gretynge. Yt ys come 
to our knowledge, that where we by the advyse of our 5 
most enterly belovyd uncle, Edward duke of Somerset, 
govemour of our person, and protectour of all our 
realmes, dominions and subjects, and the rest of our 
privy counsell, did give to the right reverend father in 
Grod Edmunde Busshoppe of London, uppon certeyn '« 
complaints before made unto us, and other great con- 
siderations, certeyn injunctioas to be followed, don and 
executed, and in sermon appoynted unto hym to preache 
by us, certeyn articles, and for more suer knowledge 
kepyng and observynge dyd exhibite the same in writ- '5 
ynge unto hym by the handes of our seid uncle, in the 
full syttynge of our counsell ; all this notwithstanding 
the said busshoppe hathe, in contempte of us, as yt may 
appere, overslipped and not observyd certeyn of the seid 
things so by us enjoyned, and other so perversly and ^o 
negligently done, that the things of us mynded to re- 
formation, and for a good quyet of our subjects, and hole 
realme be converted, by the wilful negligence or per- 
versite of hym, to a great occasion of slaundor, tumult 
and grudge amongs our people, as it hath ben denounced ^5 
to us in wrytynge by certeyn honeste and discrete per- 
sones, and otherwise declaryd. The which things, if they 
be so, we, tenderynge the wealthe, quyetnes, good order 
and government of our people, have not thought con- 
venyent to be let passed unpunyshed or unreformed. 30 
And therefore, by th'advise aforeseid have appointed 
yowe fyve, foure or thre, upon whose fidelities, wysdoms, 
dexterities and circumspections we have full confidence, 
to call before you, as well the denouncers of the said 
faulte, as also the seid busshoppe, and with due exami-as 
nations and proces according to lawe and justice, to here 



'549'] Injunctions ffiven iy Edtoard VL 71 

the seid matter, and all other matters of what kynd, 
nature or condition soever they shall be, that shall be 
objected against the seid busshoppe sumarely and de 
piano, or otherwyse as to your discretions shall be 

5 thought most mete. With full power and auctorite to 
suspende, excommunicate, commit to prison, or deprjrve 
the seid busshoppe, if the offence shall so appere to 
meryte, or to use any other censure ecclesiasticall, which 
for the better herynge and determynynge of the cause, 

lo shall be requisite and apperteyne ; any law, statute, or 
act to the contrary notwithstanding. In witness where- 
of, &c. 

Witness the kyng at Westminster the eighth day of 
Septembre. 



XIX. 

Pap« Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anuo Christi Reg. Angli» 

Paul. III. 15. Tho. Cran mer. 1 7. i549* Edward. VI. 3. 

Alia commissio regia TJumuB archiepiscopo Cantuariensi 
et aliis ad ejcaminandum maieriam contemptus episcopi 
London. Ibidem. 

■5 TC^DWARDE the syxte, &c. To the most reverend 

father in God Thomas archbishope of Canterbury, 

metropolitan and prymate of all England, the ryght 

reverend father in God Nicholas Bysshope of Rochester, 

our trusty and right beloved counsellours, Syr William 

20 Petres and Syr Thomas Smythe, Knyghts, our two prin- 
cipal 1 secretaries, and William May doctor of the law 

AUa commisgio] This warrant gave the commissioners the further 

power of administering the oath ** ex officio mero," the nature of which 

may he learnt from the discussions respecting it in the reign of queen 

as Elizabeth. See Strype*s Whitgift, v. ii. p. 28-32. v. iii. p. 232. 

Bom. Eocl. Law. v. iii. p. 4. and No. CXLVI. 

F 4 



72 In/imctions given by Edward VL [XIX. 

civill and deane of Powles gretynge. Where we of late 
by th*advise of our most entierly beloved uncle, Edward 
duke of Somerset, govemour of our person, and pro- 
tectour of all our realmes, dominions, and subjects, and 
the rest of our privy counsell, have addressed unto yowe 5 
fyve, foure, or thre of yowe, our lettres patents of com- 
mission, beryng date at Westm. the eighth daye of Sep- 
tembre in the third yeare of our reigne, willing yowe, by 
force thereof, to here the matters and causes of contempt 
therein expressed, callyng before you as wel the de- lo 
nouncers thereof, as also the right revei*end &ther in 
God Edmonde busshope of London, agaynste whom such 
denunciation ys made, as in our seid lettres of com- 
mission more at large doth appere. We be now credibly 
informed, that upon the seid commission divers doubts »5 
and ambiguities have and may arise; as whether yowe 
by the tenour of the commission may precede not only 
at the denunciation, but also mere office? And also 
whether ye may as well determyne as here the said 
cause ? For further declaration whereof we do now in- *o 
terprete and declare, that our full mynd and pleasure, by 
the advyse aforesaid, was by our seid commission, and 
now ys, that you should precede as wel by mere office, 
as also by way of denunciation, and by eyther of them, 
or by any other wayes or meanes at your discretions^ as 
whereby the truth and merits of the cause may be most 
spedely and best knowen, and that ye myght and inay 
as well finally determine as here the seid matters in all 
your orders and doyngs, cuttyng awaye all vajme and 
superstitious delayes, and havynge respect to the only 30 
truth of the matter, and this our declaration we send 
unto yowe of our suer knowledge and mere motion, by 
the advyse aforeseid, supplyeng all default, ceremony, 
and poinct of the lawe, which shall or may aryse in your 
doyngs, by reason of any default of wordes in our seid 35 
former commission or any part thereof; any lawe, statute 



1549-1 Infunetions given by Edward VI, 7S 

or acte to the contrary notwithstanding. And therefore 
we wyll and commaunde yowe to precede in the seid 
matters accordyng, as well to our foreseid commission, 
as this our declaration; and so fayle ye not. In wit- 
5 ness, &c. 

Witnesse the kynge at Hampton Court the seven- 
teenth day of Septembre. 



XX. 

Pap« Rom. Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angliae 

Julius III. i. Tho. Cranher. i8. '549* Edward. VI. 4. 

The king's order for bringing in popish rituals. Ex reg. 

Cranmer, fol. 25. b. 

** nnnOMAS permlssione divina Cantuariensis archi- 
episcopus, totius Angliae primas et metropolitanus, 

lo per illustrissimum et invictissimum in Christo principem 
et dominum nostrum dominum Edwardum sextum Dei 
gratia Angliae, Franciae, et Hibemiae regem, &;c. ad infra 
scripta suflScienter et legitime fulcitus, dilecto filio archi- 
diacono nostro Cantuariensi seu ejus ofiiciali, salutem, 

i5gratiam et benedictionem. Literas missivas dicti me- 
tuendissimi domini nostri regis signatas, et nominibus 
honorabilium virorum dominorum consiliariorum suorum 
in calce earundem subscriptas, signeto suo obsignatas, 
nobis inscriptas et datas nuper cum honore et reverentia 

2odebitis accepimus, tenorem subsequentem complecten- 
tes.** — By the kinge. Right reverende father in Godde, 

The king's order] This order in council was afterwards confirmed 

and extended by an act of parliament ; and great destruction followed in 

public libraries imder the agency of ignorant and fanatical men ; as is 

25 indignantly described by Wood. Ann. v. ii. p. 106. Comp. Collier, 

V. ii. p. 307. > 



74 Inftmctians ffiven by Edward FA [XX. 

right trusty and wellbeloved, we grete you well. And 
whereas the boke entitled " the boke of commene 
prayers and administration of the sacramentes and other 
rightes and ceremonies of the churche after the use of 
the churche of Englande," was agreed upon and sets 
forthe by acte of parliamente, and by the same acta 
commaunded to be used of all personnes wythyn this our 
realme ; yet neverthelesse we are informed, that dyvers 
unquyette and evill disposed persons sithence the appre- 
hension of the duke of Sommersett, have noysed and lo 
bruted abrode, that they sholde have agayne theire olde 
Lattenne service, their conjured bredde and water, with 
suche lyke vayne and superstitiouse ceremonies, as 
thoughe the settinge forthe of the saide boke had bene 
th' onlie acte of the saide duke ; we therefore by the »s 
advice of the bodie and state of our privey counsaile, 
not onely consideringe the saide boke to be our acte, 
and the acte of the state of th' whole state of ouie 
realme assembled togither in parliament, but also the 
same to be grounded upon holie scripture, agreable to^o 
th'ordre of the primitive churche, and moch to the reedi- 
fying of our subjectes, to put away all soch vayne ex- 
pectation of havynge the publicke service, th' admini- 
stration of the sacramentes, and other rightes and cere- 
monies agayne in the Lattenne tongue, whiche were but as 
a preferrement of ignorance to knowledge, and darknesse 
to light, and a preparation to bring in papistrie and 
superstition agayne, have thought goode, by the advice 
aforesaid, to requiere and neverthelesse straightly to 
comaunde and charge you, that immediately upon the^o 
receipt herof, you do commaunde the deane and pre- 
bendaries of the cathedrall churche, the parsonne, vicar, 
or curatte and churche wardens of everie parishe, within 
youre diocesse, to bringe and delyver unto youe or youre 
deputie, eny of theme for there churche and parishe at is 
soche convenient place, as you shal appoynt, all anti- 



1549'] Instructiom giom by Edward VI. 75 

phoners, missales, grayles, processionalles, manuelles, le- 
gendes, pies, portasies, jomalles, and ordinalles after the 
use of Sanim, Lincoln, Yorke, or any other private 'use, 
and all other bokes of service, the keping wherof shold 

5 be a let to the usage of the said boke of commenne 
prayers, and that you take the same bokes into your 
handes, or into the handes of your deputie, and them so 
deface and abolyshe that they never after may serve 
eyther to anie soche use, as they were provided for, or 

lo be at any time a lett to that godly and uniforme ordre, 
which by a common consente is now set forthe : and if 
you shall finde any persones stubbome or disobedient in 
not bringinge in the said bokes, according to the tenour 
of thies our letters, that then ye committe the said per- 

15 sone to warde, unto soche tyme, as you have certified us 
of his misbehaviour; and we will and commaund you 
that youe also searche or cause searche to be made from 
tyme to tyme, whether any boke be withdrawne or hidde 
contrarie to the teanor of these our letters, and the same 

20 boke to receyve into your handes, and to use as in these 
our letters we have appointed. And furthermore whereas 
it is comme to oure knowledge that dyvers frowarde and 
obstinate persons do refuse to pay towardes the fyndinge 
of bredde and wyne for the holy communion, according 

^l to the ordre prescribed by the saide boke, by reasone 
wherof the holie communion ys manny tymes omitted 
upon the Sonday ; these are to will and commaunde you 
to convent such obstinate persons before you, and theme 
to admonyshe and commaunde to kepe th'ordre pre- 

30 scribed in the saide boke ; and if any shal refuse so to do, 
to ponyshe them by suspension, excommunication or 
other censures of the churchc. Fayle you not thus to 
do as youe will avoyde our displeasure. Geven under 
oure signet at oure palace of Westmynster the 25th of 

35 December the 3d yeare of our reigne. By the kynge. 
Inscriptio haec est. To the most reverend father in 
Godde our right tnistie and well beloved counsaylor, th' 



76 Injtmctions giwn by Edward VI. [XX. 

archebusshoppe of Canterburie. In calce haec nomina 
habentur, Thomas Cantuarien. R. Ryche, cane. Win, 
Seirit John, J. Russell, H. Dorsett, W. Northampton. 
Nos vero affectantes ex animo domini nostri regis Uteris 
et mandatis obtemperare, volentesque pro nostro ergas 
regiam celsitudinem officio in demandatis negotiis om- 
nem nostram curam et solertem adhibere diligentiam, 
vobis pro parte suse majestatis districte praecipiendo 
mandamus harum serie, quatenus receptis praesentibus, 
cum omni qua poteritis celeritate et diligentia maturis, xo 
dilectos filios nostros decanum, canonicos, et praebenda- 
rios ecclesiae Christi Cantuarien. nee non rectores, vica^ 
rios, curates, plebanos, ac syndieos et iconicos * quarum- 
eunque ecclesiarum parochialium nostrae dioeeeseos Can- 
tuarien. moneatis, hortemini, et pra&cipiendo mandetis, 15 
quatenus ipsi et eorum quilibet vel singuli, omnes et sin- 
gulos libros in eisdem literis regiis specifiee nominatos, 
nobis aut nostro in hac parte commissario vel deputato 
infra palatium nostrum Cantuarien. infra novem dies 
monitionem et intimationem vestras eis fiendas proxime «o 
sequentes, realiter afferant, adducant et penes nos vel 
nostrum deputatum hujuscemodi relinquant, et deponant^ 
caeteraque omnia et singula in dictis literis descripta 
perimpleant, exequantur, et sedulo fieri curent, quatenus 
eos et eorum quemlibet contingunt vel concemunti ^5 
sicque vos et vestrum alter sedulo exequatur, sincere 
perimpleat et diligenter obediat, quae ad vestram in hac 
parte funetionem pro congrua executione literarum pra&- 
dictarum dignoscuntur pertinere, omnibus mora, dila- 
tione, conniyentia et fuco penitus remotis, prout eidemio 
domino nostro regi sub vestro incumbentes perienlo ob- 
temperare et respondere velitis, et vult vestrum alter. 
Et quid in hac parte feceritis, et exequi curaveritis, id 
totum et omne nobis quam citissime significatum iri noB 
postponatis. Dat. in manerio nostro de Lambithe de-95 

» Forte Geconomos. 



^55^-1 Injunctums given by Edward VI, 77 

cimo quarto die mensis Februarii, anno Domini 1549. et 
regni dicti invictissiini in Christo principis et domini 
nostri Edwardi sexti quarto, et nostrse consecrationis 
decimo septirao." 



XXI. 

Pape Ronu Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglis 

Julius III. i. Tho. Cbanmer. i8. 1550. Edward. VI. 4. 

Articles to be enquired of in the visitation of die diocese 
of London by the reverend father in God^ Nicholas 
bishop of London^ in the fourth year of our sovereign 
lord king Edward the siwth^ by the grace of God king 
of England^ France and Irelaiid^ defender of the faiths 
and in earth of the church of England and also of 
Ireland^ the supreme heady nea^t and immediately under 
our Saviour Christ. 

I charge thes therefore before God^ and the Lord Jesus Christy who 
skaU judge the quick and dead at his appearing in his kingdom ; 
preach the toord^ he instant in season^ out of season ; reprove^ 
rebuke^ exhort with all long suffering and doctrine, St. Paul, 
2 Tim. iv. 1, 2. 

5 'l^THETHER your curates and ministers be of that 
conversation of living, that worthily they can be 
reprehended of no man ? 

Articles to be enquired of] *' There was nothing else done of mo- 
ment this year [1550] in relation to the church, save the visitation 

10 made of the diocese of London by Ridley, their new bishop. But the 
exact time of it is not set down in the Register. It was, according to 
King Edward's Journal, some time before the 28th of June ; for he 
writes that on that day Sir John Yates, the high-sheriff of E^ex, was 
sent down with letters to see the bishop of London's injunctions per- 

15 formed, which touched the plucking down of superaltaries, altars, and 
such like ceremonies and abuses : so that the visitation must have 
been about the beginning of June." Burnet H. R. v. ii. p. 325. 
P. ii. p. 24. Comp. Strype Mem. v. ii. P. i. p. 3^5. Collier, v. ii. 

P- 304- 



[ 



78 Injunctions given by Edward VI. [XXL 

Whether your curates and ministers do haunt and 
resort to taverns or alehouses, otherwise than for their 
honest necessity, there to drink and riot, or to play at 
unlawful games? 

Whether your ministers be common brawlers, sowers 5 
of discord rather than charity among their parishioners, 
hawkers, hunters, or spending their time idly, or coming 
to their benefice by simony ? 

Whether your ministers or any other persons have 
committed adultery, fornication, incest, bawdry, or to be i© 
vehemently suspected of the same, common drunkards, 
scolds, or be common swearers and blasphemers of Grod's 
holy name ? 

Whether your parsons and vicars do maintain their 
houses and chancels in sufficient reparation; or if their 15 
houses be in decay, whether they bestow yearly the fifth 
part of the fruits of the benefice, until the same be 
repaired ? 

Whether your parsons and vicars, absent from their 
benefice, do leave their cure to an able minister; and if 20 
he may dispend yearly xx/. or above in this deanery, or 
elsewhere, whether he doth distribute every year among 
his poor parishioners there at the least, the fortieth part 
of the fhiits of the same. And likewise yearly spending 
c/. whether he doth find one scholar at either of the«5 
universities, or some grammar school, and so for eveiy 
other hundred pound one scholar ? 

Whether every dean, archdeacon, and prebendary, 
being priest, doth personally by himself preach twice 
every year at the least, either where he is entitled, or 3© 
where he hath jurisdiction, or in some place united or 
appropriate to the same ? 

Whether your minister having license thereunto, doth 
use to preach ; or not licensed, doth diligently procure 
other to preach that are licensed: or whether he re-«^^ 
fuseth those offering themselves, that are licensed; or 



^SS^'l Injwnctiom given by Edtoard VL 79 

absenteth himself, or canseth other to be away from the 
sermon, or else admitteth any to preach that are not 
licensed? 

Whether any by preaching, writing, word or deed 
5 hath or doth maintain the usurped power of the bishop 
of Rome ? 

Whether any be a letter of the word of God to be 
preached or read in th^ English tongue ? 

Whether any do preach, declare, or speak with any 
lo thing in derogation of the Book of Common Prayer, or 
any thing therein contained, or any part thereof ? 

Whether any do preach and defend, that private per- 
sons may make insurrection, stir sedition, or compel men 
to give them their goods ? 
15 Whether the curate doth admit any to the communion 
before he be confirmed, or any that ken not the " Pater 
noster," the Articles of the &ith, and Ten Command- 
ments in English ? 

Whether curates do minister the commimion for 
10 money, or use to have trentals of communions ? 

Whether any of the Anabaptists sect, or other, use 
notoriously any unlawful or private conventicles, wherein 
they do use doctrine or administration of sacraments, 
separating themselves from the rest of the parish ? 
«5 Whether there be any that privately in their private 
house have their masses contrary to the form and order 
of the book of communion ? 

Whether any minister doth refuse to use the common 
prayers, or minister sacraments in that order and form 
30 as is set forth in the book of common prayer ? 

Whether baptism be ministered (out of necessity) in 
any other time than on the Sunday or holy-day, or in 
another tongue than English ? 

Whether any speaketh against baptism of infants ? 
35 Whether any be married within degrees prohibited by 
God's law, or separate without cause lavirful, or is mar^ 



80 Injunctions given by Edward VI. [XXI. 

ried without banns thrice first asked three several holy- 
days or Sundays openly in the church at service time ? 

Whether any curate doth marry them of other pa- 
rishes without their curate's license and certificate from 
him of the banns thrice solemnly asked ? 5 

Whether any saith that the wickedness of the minister 
taketh away the effect of Christ's sacraments ? 

Whether any saith that christian men cannot be al- 
lowed to repentance, if they sin voluntary after baptism ? 

Whether your curates be ready to minister the sacra- »<> 
ments, visit the sick, and bury the dead, being brought 
to the church ? 

Whether any minister useth wilfally and obstinately 
any other rite, ceremony, order, form, or manner of 
communion, mattens, or evensong, ministration of sa- '5 
craments, or open prayers, than is set forth in the Book 
of Common Prayer ? 

Whether your curate, once in six weeks at the least, 
upon some Sunday or holy-day before even song, do 
openly in the church instruct and examine children not lo 
confirmed in some part of the catechism, and whether 
parents and masters do send them thither upon warning 
given by the minister? 

Whether any useth to keep abrogate holy-days or 
private holy-days, as bakers, shoemakers, brewers, smiths, n 
and such other ? 

Whether any useth to hallow water, bread, salt, bells^ 
or candles upon Candlemas-day, ashes on Ash- Wednesday, 
palms on Palm-Sunday, the font on Easter-even, fire on 
paschal, or whether there was any sepulchre on good- 30 
friday ? 

Whether the water in the font be changed every 
month once, and then any other prayers said than is in 
the Book of Common Prayer appointed ? 

Whether there be any images in your church, taber- 35 
nacles, shrines, or covering of shrines, candles, or trindles 



^55^*] ^* Bidky's Visitation Injunctions. 81 

of wax, or feigned miracles in your churches or private 
houses ? 

Whether your church be kept in due and lawful 
reparation, and whether there be a comely pulpit set up 
5 in the same, and likewise a coffer for alms for the poor, 
- called the poor men's box or chest ? 

Whether any legacies given to the poor, amending 
high ways, or marrymg poor maids, be undistributed, 
and by whom ? 

Injunctions given in the visitation of the reverend father 
in God Nicholas bishop of London^ for an uniformity 
in his diocese of London^ in the fourth year of our 
sovereign lord King Edward the SiMh^ by the grace of 
Godj King of England^ Sfc. — London, Anno Dom. 
1550. «r 

lo 1. That there be no reading of such injunctions as 
extolleth and setteth forth the popish mass, candles, 
images, chantries; neither that there be used any 
superaltaries, or trentals of communions. 

Item, That no minister do counterfeit the popish mass 

■5 m kissing the Lord's board ; washing his hands or fingers 
after the Gospel or the receipt of the holy communion ; 
shifting the book from one place to another; laying 
down and licking the chalice after the communion; 
1)Ies8ing his eyes with the sudary thereof, or patten, or 

2o crossing his head with the same; holding his forefingers 
and thumbs joined together toward the temples of his 
head, aft;er the receiving of the sacrament; breathing 
on the bread or chalice ; saying the Agnus before the 
communion; shewing the sacrament openly before the 

'5 distribution, or making any elevation thereof; ringing 
of the sacrying bell, or setting any light upon the Lord's 

8 Regist. Ridley, fol. 305. Burnet. H. R. vol. ii. P. a. p. 292. 
VOL. I. G 



82 Injimctums given by Bp. Eidhjf [XXI. 

board. And finally, that the minister, in time of the 
holy communion, do use only the ceremonies and ges- 
tures appointed by the Book of Common Prayer, and 
none other, so that there do not appear in them any 
counterfeiting of the popish mass. s 

Item, That none be admitted to receive the holy 
commimion but such as will, upon request of the curate, 
be ready with meekness and reverence to confess the 
articles of the Creed. 

Item, That none make a mart of the holy commu- ic 
nion by buying and selling the receipt thereof for money, 
as the popish mass in times past was wont to be. 

Item, Whereas in divers places some use the Lord's 
board after the form of a table, and some as an altar, 
whereby dissention is perceived to arise among the un- 15 
learned ; therefore wishing a godly unity to be observed 
in all our diocese ; and for that the form of a table may 
more move and turn the simple from the old superstitious 
opinions of the popish mass, and to the right use of the 
Lord's supper, **we exhort the curates, churchwardens «» 

^ we exhort the curates, churchwardens] " The injunction only ex- 
horts the curates to do it, which Ridley could not have done in such 
soft words, after the council had required and commanded him to do 
it : so it appears that the injunctions were g^ven only hy his episcopal 
power. And that afterwards, the same matter being brought before ^5 
the council, who were informed that in many places there had been 
contests about it, some being for keeping to their old custom, and 
others being set on a change, the council thought fit to send their 
letter concerning it to Ridley on the 24th of November following. 
(See No. XXIV.) The letter sets out that altars were taken away 30 
in divers places upon good and godly considerations, but still con- 
tinued in other places ; by which there rose much contention among 
the king's subjects : therefore for avoiding that, they did charge and 
command him to give substantial order through all his diocese for 
removing all altars, and setting up tables every where, for the com- 35 
munion to be administered in some convenient part of the chancd ; 
and that these orders might be the better received, there were reasons 
sent with the letters .... Upon these reasons therefore was this change 



'55^0 •» tke wsitatian of his diocese. 83 

and questmen here present to erect and set up the 
Lord's board after the form of an honest table decently 
covered in such place of the quire or chancel as shall be 
thought most meet by their discretion and agreement, 

5 so that the ministers with the communicants may have 
their place separated from the rest of the people; and 
to take down and abolish all other by-altars or tables. 

Item, That the minister in the time of the commu- 
nion immediately after the offertory shall monish the 

lo communicants, saying these words or such like, " Now 
is the time, if it please you, to remember the poor men's 
chest with yoiu* charitable alms." 

Item, That the Homilies be read orderly, without 
omission of any part thereof. 

»5 Item, That the Common Prayer be had in every 
church upon Wednesdays and Fridays, according to the 
king's grace's ordinance : and that all such as conve- 
niently may, shall diligently resort to the same. 

Item, That every curate be diligent to teach the 

^ Catechism whensoever just occasion is offered, upon the 
Sunday or holy-day, and at least every six weeks once 
shall call upon his parishioners, and present himself ready 
to instruct and examine the youth of the same parish, 
according to the book of service touching the same. 

*5 Item, That none maintain purgatory, invocation of 
saints, the six articles, bedrowls, images, relics, rubric 
primers, with invocation of saints, justification of man by 
his own works, holy bread, palms, ashes, candles, sepul- 
chre paschal, creeping to the cross, hallowing of the fire 

y> or altar, or any other such-like abuses, and superstitions, 

m 

ordered to be made all over England, which was universally executed 
tiiis year." Burnet H. R. vol. ii. p. 328. Comp. Collier, vol. ii. p. 304. 
Bidley framed his injunction, doubtless, on the authority given to 
bbhops in the Preface to the Book of Common Prayer, " to take order 
55 for the quieting and appeasing of all doubts" connected with the use 
of that book. 

o 2 



84 The eoimcirs letter to the Bp, of London [XXII. 

now taken away by the king's grace's most godly 
proceedings. 

Item, That all ministers do move the people to often 
and worthy receiving of the holy communion. 

Item, That every minister do move his parishioners s 
to come diligently to the church ; and when they come, 
not to talk or walk in the sermon, communion or divine 
service time, but rather at the same to behave them- 
selves reverently, godly and devoutly in the church ; and 
that they also monish the churchwardens to be diligent lo 
overseers in that behalf. 

Item, That the churchwardens do not permit any 
buying, selling, gaming, outragious noise or tumult, or 
any other idle occupying of youth in the church, church- 
porch, or churchyard, during the time of common prayer, 15 
sermon, or reading of the homily. 

Item, That no persons use to minister the sacraments, 
or in open audience of the congregation presume to ex- 
pound the holy scriptures, or to preach, before they be 
first lawfully called and authorized in that behalf. 20 

God save the king. 



XXII. 

Papae Rom. Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglias 

JuLii III. 1. Tho. Crakmer. 18. 1550. Edwaad. VI. 4. 

The councils letter to the bishop 0/ London against weekly 
lectures^ with the bishop of London's letter /or the 
execution of it to the archdea^(m of Colchester. — Ex 
reg. Bonner, fol. 281. 

A FTER oure righte hartie commendations unto your 
lordshipp ; beinge advertised from the lorde chaun- 

The counciTs letter] " Beside theae aectaries, there was infonnatioii 
sent to the court in June this year of another sort in ESssex, but they, »s 



^SS^'l againgt ijoeekly lectures. 85 

tsellor, that dyverse preachers within your dioces in the 
countie of Essex, doo preache, as well the worke dayes 
as tholie dayes, whereas some inconveniences may growe. 
Thiinldnge not convenient that the preachers shulde have 
5 liberty so to do, bycause at this present yt may increase 
the peoples ydleness, who of themselves are so moche 
disposed to yt, as all the ways that may be devised, are 
litle ynoughe to drawe them to worke. We therefore 
pray you to take order that they preache tholy dayes 

to onelie, as they have been accustomed to doo. And the 
worke dales to use those prayers, that are prescribed 
unto them. Thus we bydde your good lordship mooste 
hartelye farewell. From Grenewyche the 23d of June, 
1550, your loving freindes, E. Somerset, W. North, 

«5 E. Clynton, G. Cobham, W. Paget, W. Herbert, W. 
Petre. 

Aiwther. 

A FTER hartie commendations. Whereas the kinge 
majesties honourable counsaill ys certifyed by the 
lord chauncellor, that dyverse preachers in Essex doo 
^ouse to preache upon worke dayes, whereby the people 
gyve themselves to moche ydleness, as by the tenor of 
the letter from the saide honourable counsaill directed 
to me herein enclosed, doothe playnelie appeare. Thees 
are to will you, with convenyent expedition, not onely 

25 as it eeems, more harmless ; namely, certain that came together on 
other days besides Sundays and holy- days, to hear sermons, who had 
preachers that then preached to them : and that, for all I perceive, 
was all their fault; for I do not find any false doctrine or sedition 
laid to their charge. The Lord Chancellor Rich, who was no favourer 

50 of the Gospel, being, as it seems, at one of his houses in Essex, sent 
word of this to the council, shewing the danger of this practice, aft 
being likely to breed the common people up in a neglect of their 
ordinary callings, and an indulg^g of themselves to idleness." Strype,. 
Mem. vol. ii. P. i. p. 371. Comp. Burnet H. R. vol. ii. p. 329. 

o3 



86 King Edward^ 8 order to Bp, Gardener [XXIII. 

to gyve wamynge to all curates Mdthin your archdea- 
conry, that they suffer noo preachinge upon worke dayes 
in theire churches, but also to sende for all and singular 
preachers authorized within your saide archdeaconrye, 
and to admonysshe them of the same ; chardginge them 5 
in the kyngs highness name, that from henceforth they 
doo not preache but onlye upon sondays and holy-dayes, 
and none other dayes, excepte yt be at any buryall or 
marrage. And thus fere you hartelie well. From 
London this 25 day of June, 1550. Your loving 10 
freinde, 

NicoL. London. 

To my lovinge freende the archdeacon of Colchester, 
and in his absence, to his official there, geve thes 
with speede. 15 



XXIII. 

Pap» Rom. Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angliae 

JuLii III. I. Tho. Cranmer. 18. 1550* Edward. VI. 4. 

King Edward VI. order to buhop Gardener of Win- 
chester^ about subscribing to certai^i articles sent to him 
by the king, — Ex originali in sylloge epistol. Tito 
Livio Foro-juliensi annex, edit. Heam. pag. 119. 

TT is not, we think, unknown unto you, with what 
clemency and favour, we by the advice of our coimcil 

King Edward VI. order'] This order will be sufficiently explaiDed 
by the following extracts from the Journal of King Eklward. (Burnet 
H. R. vol. ii. P. 2. p. 25.) " July 9. The Earl of Warwick, the Lord «o 
Treasurer, Sir WUliam Herbert, and the Secretary Petre, went to the 
Bishop of Winchester, with certain articles signed by me and the 
council, containing the confession of his fault, the supremacy, the 
establishing of holy-days, the abolishing of six articles, and divers 
other, whereof the copy is in the council chest ; whereunto he put 25 



155^*] ahcfui iuiscrHinff to certain artides. 87 

caused you to be heard, and used upon these sundry 
complaints and infonnations, that were made to us and 
our said council, of your disordered doing and words, 
both at the time of our late visitation and otherwise; 
5 which notwithstanding, considering, that the favour both 
then and many other times ministered unto you, wrought 
rather an insolent wilMness in yoUrself, than any obe- 
dient conformity, such as would have beseemed a man 
of your vocation, we could not but use some demon- 
ic stration of justice towards you, as well for such notorious 
and apparent contempts and other inobedience, as after 
and contrary to our commandment were openly known 
in you, as also for some example and terror of such 
others, as by your example seemed to take courage to 
15 mutter and grudge against our most godly proceedings : 
whereof great disorder and inconvenience at that time 
might have ensued. For the avoiding thereof, and 
for your just deserving, you were by our said council 
committed to ward, where, albeit we have suflfered you 
20 to remain a long space, sending unto you in the mean 
time at sundry times divers of the noblemen and others 
of our privy council, and travailing by them with 
clemency and favour to have reduced you to the know- 
ledge of your duty; yet in all this time have you 
25 neither acknowledged your faults, nor made any such 



his hand, saving to the confession. July 10. Sir William Herbert and 
Secretary Petre were sent unto him to tell him, I marvelled that he 
would not put his hand to the confession. To which he made answer. 
That he would not put his hand to the confession, for because he was 

30 innocent, and also the confession was but the preface of articles. 
July 1 1 . The Bishop of London, the Secretary Petre, Mr. Cecil, and 
Goderick were commanded to make certain articles accorduig to the 
laws, and to put in the submission. July 14. The Bishop of Win- 
chester did deny the articles that the Bishop of London and the other 

35 had made." The whole proceedings are given at length by Str3rpe, 
Cranm. vol. i. pp. 315 — 323. Burnet H. R. vol. ii. pp. 309 — 313. 

o 4 



88 Subscription to certain articles, [XXIIL 

submission, as might have beseemed you, nor yet shewed 
any appearance either of repentance, or of any good 
conformity to our godly proceedings. Wherewith, albeit 
we have good cause to be ofiended, and might also 
justly by the order of our laws cause your former do- 5 
ings to be reformed and punished to the example of 
others, yet for that we would both the world and your- 
self also should know, that we delight more in clemency, 
than in the strait administration of justice, we have 
vouchsafed not only to address unto you these our »o 
letters, but also to send eftsones unto you four of our 
privy council with certain articles, which being by us 
with the advice of our said council considered, we think 
requisite for sundry considerations to be subscribed by 
you, and therefore will and command you to subscribe »s 
the said articles, upon pain of incurring such punish- 
ments and penalties, as by our laws may be put upon 
you for not doing the same. Given at our palace of 
Westminster, the 8th day of July, the 4th year of our 
reign. *® 

E. Somerset, William Petre, 

W. North, J. Warwick, 

William Paget, G. Cobham, 

W. Wiltshire, W. Herbert, 

E. Clynton, Edward North, »5 

A. Wyngfyeld, J. Bedford. 



^55^-] ^^ eotmeWs order to Ude down altars. 89 



XXIV. 

Pap« Rom. Archiepiac Cant. Anno Christ! Reg. Angliae 

JuLii. HI. I. Tho. CuANMEa. 19. 1550. Edward. VI. 4. 

The councils order to bishop Ridley to take down altars, 
and place communion tables in their stead. — Ex Heylin. 
Hist. Ref. p. 96. et Fox. pr. edit. fol. 727. 

13 IGHT reverend fkther in God, right trusty and well 

beloved, we greet you well. Whereas it is come 

to our knowledge, that being the altars within the more 

part of the churches of the realm, upon good and godly 

5 considerations are taken down, there doth yet remain 
altars standing in divers other churches, by occasion 
whereof much variance and contention ariseth amongst 
simdry of our subjects, which, if good foresight were not 
had, might perhaps engender great hurt and inconve- 

10 nience ; we let you wit, that minding to have all oc- 
casion of contention taken away, which many times 
groweth by those and such like diversities, and consi- 
dering that amongst other things belonging to our royal 
oflSce and care, we do accoimt the greatest to be, to 

15 maintain the common quiet of our realm ; we have 
thought good by the advice of our council, to require 
you and nevertheless especially to charge and command 
you, for the avoiding of all matters of further contention 
and strife, about the standing or taking away of the 

ao said altars, to give substantial order throughout all your 
diocese, that with all diligence all the altars in every 
church or chapel, as well in places exempted as not 

The councifs order] See No. XXI. The following entry appears 

in King Edward's Journal: " November 19. There were letters sent 

25 to every bishop to pluck down the altars." Burnet, vol. ii. P. 2. 

p. 31- 



90 The caunciTs order to take down aUars. [XXIV. 

exempted, within your said diocese to be taken down, 
and instead of them a table to be set up in some con- 
venient part of the chancel, within every such church 
or chapel, to serve for the ministration of the blessed 
communion. And to the intent the same may be done 5 
without the offence of such our loving subjects, as be 
not yet so well persuaded in that behalf, as we could 
wish ; we send unto you herewith certain considerations 
gathered aiid collected, that make for the purpose, the 
which as such others as you shall think meet to be set «> 
forth to persuade the weak to embrace. Our proceed- 
ings in this part we pray you cause to be declared to 
the people, by some discreet preachers, in such places 
as you shall think meet before the taking down of the 
said altars, so as both the weak consciences of others 15 
may be instructed and satisfied as much as may be, and 
this our pleasure the more quietly executed. For the 
better doing whereof, we require you to open the afore- 
said considerations in that our cathedral church in your 
own person, if you conveniently may, or otherwise hj^ 
your chancellor, or other grave preacher, both there 
and in such other market towns and most notable places 
of your diocese as you may think most requisite. 

Given under our signet at our palace of Westmin- 
ster the 24th day of November in the 4th year of our n 
reign. 



I550-] -^(^ obgtreandum librumpreeum communium. 91 



XXV. 

Pape Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angiias 

JuLii III. I. Tho. Cranmer. 19. 1550* Edward. VI. 4. 

Conimissio regia ad obsei'vandum librum pi'ecum com^ 
munium Sfc. Ex reg. Cranmer. fol. 70. b. seq. 

Tj^DWARDUS sextus Dei gratia Angliae, Franciae et 
"^ Hibemiae rex, fidei defensor, ac in terra ecclesise 
Anglicanae et Hibemicae supremum caput, reverendis- 
simo in Christo patri Thomae Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, 

5 totius Angliae primati et metropolitano ; ac reverendis in 
Christo patribus Thomae Eliensi, Nicholao London. Hen- 
rico Lincolnien. Thomae Norwicen. ac Johanni Roffen. 
episcopis; — Nicholao Wotton decano Cantuar. uni con- 
siliariorum nostrorum, nee non praedilectis et fidelibus 

10 consiliariis nostris, Willelmo Peter militi, Willelmo Cecill 
armigero, secretariis nostris primariis; dilectis nobis Ri- 
cardo Coxe eleemosynario nostro, Anthonio Cooke militi, 
Jacobo Hales militi, uni justiciariorum nostrorum ad 
communia placita, Thomae Smythe militi, Johanni Cheke, 

15 adolescentiae nostrae institutori, Willelmo May, decano 
sancti P. L. Johanni Taylor decano Lincolnien. Simoni 
Hanes, decano Exonien. Griffino Layson, decano de ar- 
cubus London, doctoribus Ricardo Godericke, Johanni 
Gosnolde, armigeris; — Richardo Wylkes, Johanni Red- 

20 man, archidiacono de Tawnton, Hugoni Latimer, Egidio 
Ayer, decano Cicestren, Matthae. Parker, sacrae theologiae 
I)rofessori, Miloni Coverdale, Johanni Oliver, Ricardo 
Lyell, Rolando Taylor, Christophero Nevinson, legum 
doctoribus; — Henrico Sydall et Nicholao Bullingham 

25 salutem. Etsi regibus quidem omnibus qui Christi no- 
men profitentur, nihil aeque incumbat ac fidem christi- 

Commissio regia] Strype, Mem. vol. ii. P* i* p* 385. 



93 Cammissio regia ad observandum [XXV. 

anam in suo populo, ac in ecclesiis suse auctoritati regies 
subjectis, sartam, tectam atque incolumem servare ; nobis 
tamen qui fidei defensor peculiari quodam titulo vocamur, 
maximae prae caeteris curae esse debet, ut non solum pro 
viribus annitamur, ut Christi religio quam purissime atque s 
integerrime nostro populo tradatur, verum etiam ut omni 
qua possumus ratione caveamus, ne Christi adversarius, ut 
est semper ad omnia corrumpenda paratus, noxiimi haere- 
seos semen, et labem malae doctrinae clanculum in segetem 
christiani populi, et hoc arvum nobis commissum seminet ; lo 
sed si quid forte emerserit tale (quod sper&mus Deum 
aversurum) saltern ut quam primiun evellatur, ne latius 
serpens illud virus etiam sanas et salubres partes eomim- 
pat. Et quoniam nos ipsi non possumus ad omnia hujus- 
cemodi in nostra persona obeunda et curanda semper esse 15 
in otio et parati, et modo ad nos et consiliarios nostros 
perlatum est, exoriri in nonnuUis nostri regni locis quos- 
dam, qui resuscitant sceleratos Anabaptistarum et liberti- 
norum errores, et qui aliarum haeresium impia et impura 
dogmata serunt et instillant in aures rudis vulgi, et impe- 30 
ritae plebis nostras mentes illis nefariis opinionibus infici- 
unt, ut antequam illud venenum latius serpat, opportuniun 
et necessarium remedium pro facultate nostra regia adhi- 
beamus; de advisamento consilii nostri praedicti vos sele- 
gimus, quibus banc nostram curam, et hoc tarn necessa- 2$ 
rium munus extirpandae et reprimendae haereseos commit- 
teremus. Ad inquirendum igitur de omnibus articulis 
haereseos cujuscunque, et examinandum omnes et singulos 
subditos nostros, et alios quoscunque infra regnum et do- 
minia nostra residentes et commorantes de et super haere- 30 
sibus et erroribus quibuscunque, in fide Christiana suspec- 
tos, detectos, denunciatos, inquisitos, et accusatos, aut in 
posterum detegendos, denunciandos, inquirendos vel accu- 
sandos, et quoscunque testes ubicimque locorum infra 
regnum et dominia nostra commorantes vel degentes, 35 
aliarumque probationum genera quascunque, pro veritate 



^55^*1 lUrum precum communium. 93 

praemissonim enidienda quomodolibet requisita, recipi- 
enda^ et admittenda, testesque hujuscemodi in forma 
jurandorum testium jurandos et examinandos, ac omnibus 
aliis viis et modis et formis quibus melius et efficacius 

5 poteritis, de veritate praemissonim etiam summarie et de 
piano, ac sine strepitu et figura judicii cognoscendi inqui- 
rendi, et investigandi ; et si per examinationem et inqui- 
sitionem hujuscemodi aliquem vel aliquos alicujus haere- 
seos seu impiae opinionis crimine contactum sen contactos, 

lo involutum seu involutes esse deprehenderitis, ab erroribus 
suis revocandos, eumque et eos, si errorum suorum per- 
taesum vel pertaesos esse comperitis, ad errorum suorum 
hujuscemodi retractationes, recantationes, abjurationes, et 
renunciationes inducendos, et subsequenter in sacrosanctae 

15 ecclesiae gremium admittendos et recipiendos, aliasve 
prout juris nostri et aequitatis ratio persuaserit, absolven- 
dos et dimittendos, pcenitentiasque salutares et condignas 
pro conmiissis infligendas et imponendas; pertinacem 
vero vel pertinaces, obstinatum aut obstinates, erroribus 

9o suis desperate immersum vel immersos, si quem vel quos 
deprehenderitis, ex coetu fidelium ejiciendum vel ejicien- 
dos, ac seculari potestati nostrae, si ita facti atrocitas ex- 
poscat, committendos, tradendos et liberandos; nee non 
omnes et singulos rectores, vicarios, et clericos, et minis- 

25 tros ecclesiasticos quoscunque ac laicos, cujuscunque con- 
ditionis existant, librum nostrum vulgo appellatimi, " The 
book of the common prayers and administration of the 
sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies of the 
church after the use of the church of England" aut di- 

30 vina officia in eodem expressa et inserta, vel aliquam par- 
tem eorundem contemnentes, spementes, adversantes, sive 
obloquentes, si qui tales suspecti, reperti, detecti, inquisiti, 
denunciati, aut accusati fuerint, juxta vim, formam, et 
effectum statuti in ea parte editi et provisi, puniendos, et 

35 corrigendos ; caeteraque omnia et singula facienda, exer- 
cenda, et expedienda, quae circa dicta inquisitionis et ex- 



94 Ad observandnm librum precum emnmnmimm. [XXV. 

aminationis negotia necessaria fuerint, sen quomodolibet 
opportuna, vobis triginta et nni, triginta, viginti novem, 
viginti octo, viginti septem, viginti sex, viginti quinqne, 
viginti quatuor, viginti tribus, viginti duobos, viginti uni, 
viginti, novendecim, octodecim, septendecim, sexdecim, 5 
quindecim, quatuordecim, tredecim, duodecim, undecim, 
decern, 9> 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, aut tribus vestnim, quorum archi- 
episcopum Cantuariensem, episcopum Eliensem, epis- 
copum London, episcopum Lincoln, episcopum Norwicen. 
episcopum Roffen. Nicholaum Wotton, Willelmum lo 
Peter, Willelmum Cecill, Richardum Coxe, Jacobum 
Hales, et Willelmum May unum esse volumus, et in ex- 
ecutione praemissorum interesse : de quorum sana doc- 
trina, fidei zelo, vitaeque et morum integritate, exactaque 
in rebus gerendis dexteritate specialem in Domino fidu- 15 
ciam obtinemus, vices nostras committimus, et plenam 
tenore praesentium concedimus facultatem, cum potestate 
plenissima personas sic detectas, denunciatas, inquisitas, 
accusatas vel suspectas evocandas coram vobis, et careen 
et vinculis, si opus fiierit, mancipandas, ac testes qnoscun- 20 
que pro veritate praemissorum explicandos, et erudiendos 
quomodolibet requisites, coram vobis, quibuscunque die- 
bus et locis vestro arbitrio in hac parte limitandis, evo- 
candos et citandos, eosdemque testes sese subtrahentes 
omnibus modis et juris nostri remediis quibuscunque com- 15 
pellendos cum omni alia jurisdictionis et auctoritatis nos- 
tras legitima coertione in hac parte et potestate ; vosque 
ad effectus praedictos cognitores, inquisi tores, judices, et 
commissaries nostros deputamus, nominamus, facimus^ 
constituimus per praesentes omni appellatione remota; eo 30 
non obstante, quod denunciatio, indicatio sive accusatio 
contra personas praedictas hujuscemodi in hac parte non 
processerit, sive aliquibus aliis statutis aut ordinationibus 
in parliamentis nostris in contrarium editis sive provisis, 
in quibus forsan major solennitas et circumstantia ad ha- 36 
juscemodi exequenda negotia requiruntur, caeterisque in 



155^*] P^^ reformcttiane legmn ecclesiasticarmn. ' 95 

contrarium &cientibus non obstantibus quibuscunque : 
mandantes omnibus et singulis theologis et jurisperitis^ 
nee non majoribus, vicecomitibus, ballivis, aliisque offici- 
ariis, et ministris nostris quibuscunque, quatenus vobis in 
5 et circa prsemissorum executionem effectualiter, si per 
V08 requisiti et interpellati fuerint, assistant et suffra- 
gentur. In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri 
fecimus paten tes, teste me ipso apud Westm. 18. die 
Januarii anno regni nostri quarto. 



XXVI. 

PapoB Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christ! R^. Aiigiiae 

JuLii 111. 2. Tho. Cranmer. 2o. 1551* Edward. VI. 5. 

Commissio regia pro reformatione leffiim ecclesiasticarum. 

10 TjlDWARDUS sextus Dei gratia Angiiae, Franciae et 
Hibemiae rex, fidei defensor, et in terra ecclesiae 

Commissio regia] *' The revision of the ecclesiastical laws had been 
projected as early as 1532. In the submission then made to king 
Henry by the clergy, they declared, that whereas divers canons were 

15 ' thought to be not only much prejudicial to his prerogative royal, but 
also overmuch onerous to his highnesses subjects' they were content to 
commit the judgment respecting them to thirty-two persons — * all to 
be chosen and appointed by his most noble grace.' In conformity with 
this concession, an Act of Parliament was passed in March 1534 (Stat. 

20 35 Hen. Vni. c. 19.) empowering his majesty to nominate commis- 
sioners, and enacting that the canons approved by these commissioners, 
if fortified by the royal assent under the great seal, should be kept and 
observed within the realm. This Act was renewed in 1536 (Stat. 27 
Hen. Vni. c. 15.) and again in 1544 (Stat. 35 Hen. VIH. c. 16). 

15 In the latter case it was so far carried into execution that commis- 
sioners were appointed, a body of ecclesiastical law digested, and a letter 
of ratification prepared for the king's signature. But this signature was 
never affixed ; and the powers granted to the crown having been limited 
to the life-time of Henry VIIL, a fresh Act was passed with the same 



96 C(mimi89io reffia pro r^/(Mrmations [XXVI. 

Anglicanae et Hibemicae supremum caput, reverendis* 
simo in Christo patri, Thomae eadem gratia Cant, archi- 
episcopo, totius Angliae primati, et metropolitano, reve- 
rendoque in Christo patri Thomae Ellens! episcopo; ac 
dilectis nobis in Christo Richardo Cox eleemosynario 5 
nostro, Petro Martyr, sacrae theologiae professoribus, 
Willielmo Maye, Rowlando Taylour de Hadley, legum 
doctoribus; necnon dilectis et fidelibus nostris, Johanni 
Lucas, et Richardo Gooderike, armigeris, salutem. Cum 
vos triginta duos viros ad leges nostras ecclesiasticas per- >o 
legendas et componendas juxta vim, formam et effectum 
cujusdam acti parliamenti in tertio regni nostri anno apud 

object in 1549. Commissioners are said to have been named shortly 
afterwards in pursuance of its provisions ; but if this was the fact, they 
seem to have made little progress in the business, for a new commission 15 
was issued in Oct. 155 1, to eight bishops, eight divines, eight civilians, 
and eight common lawyers ; of whom eight were selected to gather and 
put in order the materials. • But the matter* says Stnrpe * was in ef- 
fect wholly entrusted by the king to the archbishop, who associated to 
himself in the active part of this work, Taylor, Martyr and Haddon.* 30 
And this account is confirmed by the numerous corrections in the hand- 
writing of Cranmer and Peter Martyr, which may still be seen in a MS. 
copy of the projected code preserved in the British Museum." (Uarl. 
MSS. 426.) Cranmer's Works by Jenkyns, vol. i. p. cviii. The present 
commission is dated Nov. 11, 155 1 , and seems to have superseded that 35 
of October, for the sole purpose of substituting the names of Goodrich, 
bishop of Ely, William May, and Richard Groodrich, for those of Ridley, 
Traheron and Gosnold. A reason may easily be found for the intro- 
duction of the bishop of Ely into this commission, as it had recently 
been determined, on the disgrace of lord Rich, to raise him to the 30 
office of lord chancellor. The code was completed by these com- 
missioners, but not early enough to obtain the force of law before the 
death of king Edward. The attempts to revive it in the reign of Eliza- 
beth were unsuccessful. It was published in 1 5 7 1 by John Daye, with 
a Preface written by Fox. This account of the matter is derived prin- IS 
cipally from Strype, and differs in many points from that of bishop 
Burnet. See Strype, Mem. vol. ii. P. i. pp. 290. 530. P. ii. p. 205. 
Cranm. 778. Parker, vol. ii. p. 63. Burnet, H. R. vol. ii. p. 404. 
Collier, vol. ii. p. 336. Lingard, vol. iv. p. 462. 



1551-1 Isgum eeclesiastirarum, 97 

Westra. facti, brevi assignare et deputare proponimus; et 
ubi numerus praedictus ad tractatum legum praedictarum 
describendarum et componendarum, nimius videtur, tam- 
etsi id turn propter consultationem et judicium super 

5 eo habendum, turn etiam propter perfectionem et com- 
plementum earundem longe expediens existit, nobis mo- 
ventibus consiliariis nostris a secretis, consentaneum ma- 
gis videtur, hujus rei initium, introitum, primam formam 
et lineaturam numero octavo, qui doctorum triginta erit 

»o portio, committere, nempe quasi praeparationem quandam 
grandiori numero fiituram. 

Quapropter de prudentia, scientia, et diligentia vestris 
plurimum confidentes, de sententia concilii nominavimus 
et deputavimus vos commissaries nostros, et vobis aucto- 

<5 ritatem per praesentes impartimus, ut loco et tempore 
congruis, et opportunis, celeritate conveniente, qua pote- 
ritis maxima, insimul conveniatis, cursumque legum ec- 
clesiasticarum, infra regnum nostrum in usu existentium, 
aut antehac uti solitarum, diligenter perlegatis, conside- 

loretis, et ponderetis; eoque facto, illarum loco et vice, 
coUectionem, compilationem, et ordinem talium legum 
ecclesiasticarum inveniatis, faciatis, et in scripta redigi 
faciatis, quales in usu esse, practicari, et in quibuscunque 
curiis, et jurisdictionibus nostris ecclesiasticis infra istud 

'5 regnum nostrum, et alia nostra dominia proponi et pub- 
lican, de scientia, sapieutia, et judicio vestris maxime 
expediens fore putaveritis : habentes considerationem, 
et respectum debitum ad tenorem statuti praedicti pro 
praeservatione legum nostrarum communium in sue vi- 

30 gore remanentium, et pro omnibus aliis articulis, et ramis 
dicti statuti. Et quamprimum leges praedictae per vos 
adinventae, formatae, descriptae, et compilatae fiunt, eas- 
dem statim nobis exhiberi, et in scriptis tradi volumus, 
ut eas de concilii nostri sententia, de residue triginta 

35 duorum, una vobiscum pro ulteriore legum praedictarum 
ecclesiasticarum ratificatione, et perfectione, tanquam 

VOL. I. H 



98 Pro re/ormatione legvm eeclesiagticarwn. [XXVI. 

commissariorum nostrorum, juxta formam statuti prae- 
dicti, conjimctim nominandorum transmittamus. 

Et quamvis vos ea modestia, et sapientia prseditos 
esse scimus, quod onus istud humeris vestris commissum, 
et impositum, baud parvi esse momenti, et pendens 5 
aestimabitis ; considerantes tamen, quod propositum no- 
strum non est aliud, quam praeparationis cujusdam gratia 
istud a vobis eflfectum reddi, its. quod major numerus 
ad consultationem, et perfectionem ejusdem magis certo 
et ordinate procedere valeat, certiores vos esse volumus, *<> 
quod actioneSy et studia vestra in bac parte, cum erunt 
nobis gratissima, tum aut benignissima, et maxime favo- 
rabili interpretatione accepta. 

Et praeterea volumus, quod statim post receptionem 
praesentium una conveniatis, et bac in re celeritate et 15 
expeditione ea utamini, quam causa exposcit; man- 
dantes et stricte praecipientes onmibus et singulis per- 
sonis, quarum consilio, sententia, et ope in bac parte 
vos opus babebitis, quod illi per vos requisiti opem prse- 
stent, consulant, et juvent, quemadmodum nobis placers «© 
cupiunt. In cujus testimonium, bas literas nostras fieri 
fecimus patentes. Teste meipso apud Westm. xi. die 
Novembris anno regni regis quinto. 

Makton. 
Per ipsum regem, et de data praedicta. 95 



^55^-] Imtructiont to the marquesg of Northampton. 99 



XXVII. 

Pape Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno ChriBti R^. Angli» 

JuLii III. 3. Tho. Cranmer. 21. >552* Edward. VF. 6. 

Instructions given hy the hinges majesty to his right trusty 
and right well beloved cousin and counceUor the mar- 
quess of Northampton^ and to the rest of his highness^ 
com7nissioners appointed for the sw*vey of church goods 
within his majesty* s county of Northampton. Ex. Fuller 
Eccles. Hist. lib. vii. p. 417. ad ann. 

Edward, 

THIRST upon the receipt of the said commission by any 

one of the same commissioners, he that so shall first 

receive the commission, shall forthwith with all conve- 

5 nient speed give knowledge to the rest named in the 
said commission, and with them shall agree to meet and 
assemble with what speed they can, for the execution of 
the same commission, and these instructions ; and if any 
of the said commissioners shall be dead, sick, or other- 

lo wise be so absent out of the country for the service of 
the king, that he cannot with speed attend the same, in 
that case, the rest of the same commissioners, so that 
they be to the number appointed by the commission, 
shall not make any delay from the proceeding in the 

•5 Instructions given'] *' There was a strict inquiry made of all who 
had cheated the king in the suppression of chantries, or in any other 
thing that related to churches ; from which the visitors were believed 
to have embezzled much to their own uses ; and there were many suits 
in the star-chamber about it. Most of all these persons had been the 

2o friends or creatures of the duke of Somerset : and the inquiry after 
these things seems to have been more out of hatred to him, than out 
of any design to make the king the richer by what should be recovered 
for his use." Burnet, H. R. vol. ii. p. 424. See also Strype, Mem. vol. ii. 
P. a. p. 21 I. 

h2 



100 Ingtructions to the marquess of Northampton [XXVII. 

same commission, but shall forthwith allot their sittings, 
assemblies and meetings for the same commission, as in 
like cases hath been, or shall be meet to be used. 

Item, for their better and more certain proceeding, the 
said commissioners shall in such cases, where none ofs 
the commissioners be " custos rotulorum** of that county, 
nor hath been since the beginning of our reign, com- 
mand the said " custos rotulorum** or their deputy, or 
the clerk of the peace of those parts, to bring or send 
unto them such books, registers, and inventories, as hath lo 
heretofore any wise come to their hands by indenture 
touching the sums, numbers, and values of any goods, 
plate, jewels, vestments, and bells, or ornaments of any 
churches, chapel, and such like : and likewise the said 
commissioners shall send to the bishops of every diocese, <5 
wherein the said county is situate, or to their chancellors, 
commissaries, or other ecclesiastical officers, in whose 
hands or custody the like of the aforesaid inventories 
and registers have command of them and every of them, 
they shall receive and take the said books, registers, and «o 
inventories ; and that done, the said commissioners shall 
compare both the same inventories (that is to say) as 
well such as they shall receive and take of the " custos 
rotulorum," or their deputy, or the clerk of the peace, as 
of the bishops or other under officers ; and accordingly «5 
to the best, richest, and greatest inventories of the said 
commissioners shall proceed to make their survey and 
inquiry, and by the same make the searches of the de- 
faults and wants that shall be found. And generally the 
same commissioners shall not only by the view of the 30 
said registers and inventories, but also by any other 
means they can better devise, proceed to the due search, 
and inquisition of the wants and de&ults of any part of 
the said goods, plates, jewels, vestments, bells, or orna- 
ments. 35 

Item, for the more speedy obtaining of the 



1552.] for the survey of Churth goods. 101 

registers, and inventories, the said commissioners shall 
receive special letters of commandment from our privy 
coimcil for the delivery thereof, which letters the said 
commissioners shall deliver as they shall see occasion. 
5 Item, the said commissioners shall upon their view 
and survey taken, cause due inventories to be made by 
bills or books indented, of all manner of goods, plate, 
jewels, bells and ornaments as yet remaining, or any wise 
forth-coming and belonging to any churches, chapels, 

>o fraternities, or guilds; and the one part of the same in- 
ventories to send and return to our privy council, and 
the other to deliver to them, in whose hands the said 
goods, plate, jewels, bells, and ornaments shall remain 
to be kept preserved. And they shall also give good 

15 charge and order, that the same goods and every part 
thereof, be at all times forth-coming to be answered, 
leaving nevertheless in every parish church or chapel of 
common resort, one, two, or more chalices or cups, ac- 
cording to the multitude of the people in every such 

so church or chapel ; and also such other ornaments as by 
their discretion shall seem requisite for the divine ser- 
vice in every such place for the time. 

And because we be informed, that in many places 
great quantity of the said plate, jewels, bells, and orna- 

25 ments be embezzled by certain private men, contrary to 
our express commandments in that behalf; the said 
commissioners shall substantially and justly inquire and 
attain the knowledge thereof, by whose default the same 
is, and hath been, and in whose hands any part of the 

30 same is come. And in that point the said commissioners 
shall have good regard, that they attain to certain names 
and dwellingplaces of every person and persons, that hath 
sold, alienated, embezzled, taken or carried away; and 
of such also as have counselled, advised, and commanded 

35 any part of the said goods, plate, jewels, bells, vestments, 
and ornaments to be taken or carried away, or otherwise 

H 3 



102 Instructions to the marquess of Northampton. [XXVII. 

embezzled. And these things they shall as certainly 
and duly as they can, cause to be searched and under- 
stand. 

Upon a full search and inquiry whereof, the said com- 
missioners, four or three of them, shall cause to be called 5 
before them also the persons by whom any of the said 
goods, plate, jewels, bells, ornaments, or any other the 
premises, have been alienated, embezzled, or taken 
away ; or by whose means or procurement the same or 
any part thereof hath been attempted, or to whose hands «<> 
or use any of the same, or any profit for the same hath 
grown ; and by such means as to their discretions shall 
seem best, cause to bring into their the said commis- 
sioners' hands, to our use, the said plate, jewels, bells, 
and other the premises so alienated, or the true and just 'S 
value thereof; certifying unto our privy council the 
names of all such as refuse to stand to, or obey their 
order, touching the redelivery and restitution of the 
same, or the just value thereof, to the intent that, as 
cause and reason shall require, every man may answer to 20 
his doings in this behalf. 

Finally, our pleasure is, that the said commissioners 
in all their doings, shall use such sober and discreet 
manner of proceeding, as the effect of this commission 
may go forward with as much quiet, and as little occa- 25 
sion of trouble or disquiet of the multitude, as may be ; 
using to that end such wise persuasions in all places of 
their sessions, as in respect of the place and disposition 
of the people may seem to their vrisdoms most expe- 
dient; giving also good and substantial order for the 30 
stay of the inordinate and greedy covetousness of such 
disordered people, as have or shall go about the alien- 
ating of any of the premises, so as according to reason 
and order, such as have or shall contemptuously offend 
in this behalf, may receive reformation, as for the quality 35 
of their doings shall be requisite. 



1553O Queen Mary's first proclamaiion. lOS 



XXVIII. 

Paps Rom. Archiepisc Cant. Anno ChrisU Rc^. Anglis 

JuLii III. 4. Tho. Cravmer. 21. 1553* Maria I. 

Queen Marjfs first proclamation about religion. Ex 
Heylin Hist. Refor. p. 193. Et ex Fox pr. ed. 
fol. 803. 

THHE queen's highness well remembering, what great 
inconvenience and dangers have grown to this her 
realm in times past through the diversity of opinions in 
question of religion ; and hearing also, that now of late 
5 sithence the beginning of her most gracious reign the 
same contentions be again much revived, through cer- 
tain false and untrue reports and rumours spread by 
some evil disposed persons, hath thought good to give 
to understand to all her highness' most loving subjects 

»o her most gracious pleasure in manner following. 

First, her majesty being presently by the only good- 
ness of God settled in her just possession of the imperial 
crown of this realm, and other dominions thereunto be- 
longing, cannot now hide that religion, which God and 

'5 the world knoweth she hath ever professed from her in- 
fancy hitherto; which as her majesty is minded to ob- 
serve and maintain for herself by God's grace during her 
time, so doth her highness much desire, and would be 
glad, the same were of all her subjects quietly and 

10 charitably entertained. 

And yet she doth signify to all her majesty's loving 
subjects, that of her most gracious disposition and cle- 
mency, her highness minded not to compel any her said 
subjects thereunto, until such time as fiirther order, by 

25 Queen Mary* 8 first proclamation] Strype, Mem. vol. iii. P. i. p. 38. 
Bamet, H. R. vol. ii. p. 491. Collier, vol. ii. p. 345. Lingard, vol. v. 
p. 27. 

H 4 



104 Queen Mary's firtst [XXVIII. 

common assent, may be taken therein ; forbidding never- 
theless all her subjects of all degrees, at their perils, to 
move seditions, or stir unquietness in her people, by in- 
terrupting the laAvs of this realm after their brains and 
fancies, but quietly to continue for the same, till (as 5 
before is said) further order may be taken ; and there- 
fore willeth and straitly chargeth and commandeth all 
her good loving subjects to live together in quiet sort, 
and Christian charity, leaving those new found devilish 
terms of papist and heretic, and such like, and applying 10 
their whole care, study, and travel to live in the fear of 
God, exercising their conversations in such charitable 
and godly doings, as their lives may indeed express the 
great hunger and thirst of God's glory, which by rash 
talk and words many have pretended ; and in so doing 15 
they shall best please God and live without danger of 
the laws, and maintain the tranquillity of the realm : 
whereof as her highness shall be most glad, so if any 
man shall rashly presume to make any assemblies of 
people, or at any public assemblies, or otherwise shall go 20 
about to stir the people to disorder, or disquiet, she 
mindeth according to her duty to see the same most 
severely reformed and punished, according to her ma- 
jesty's laws. 

And furthermore, forasmuch as it is well known, that '^'^ 
seditions and false rumours have been nourished and 
maintained in this realm by the subtlety and malice of 
some evil disposed persons, which take upon them with- 
out sufficient authority, to preach and interpret the word 
of God after their own brains in churches and others© 
places, both public and private, and also by playing of 
interludes, and printing of false fond books and ballads, 
rhymes and other lewd treatises in the English tongue, 
containing doctrine in matters now in question and con- 
troversies, touching the high points and mysteries in 35 
Christian religion, which books, ballads, rhymes, and 



^553-1 prodatnatian ahoui reUgwii, 105 

treatises are chiefly by the printers and stationers set 
out to sale to her grace's subjects, of an evil zeal for 
lucre and covetousness of vile gain ; her highness there- 
fore straitly chargeth and commandeth all and every 

5 of her said subjects of whatsoever state, condition, or 
degree they be, that none of them presume from hence- 
forth to preach, or by way of reading in churches and 
other public or private places, except in schools of the 
university, to interpret or teach any scriptures, or any 

lo manner of points of doctrine, concerning religion ; neither 
also to print any book, matter, ballad, rhyme, interlude, 
process or treatise, nor to play any interlude, except they 
have her grace's special license in writing for the same, 
upon pain to incur her highness' indignation and displea- 

»5 sure. And her highness also further chargeth and com- 
mandeth all and every her said subjects, that none of 
them of their own private authority do presume to 
punish or to rise against any offender in the causes 
above^d, or any other offender in words and deeds in 

»the late rebellion committed or done by the duke of 
Northumberland or his complices, or to seize any of 
their goods, or violently to use any such offender by 
striking, or imprisoning, or threatening the same; but 
wholly to reserve the punishment of all such offenders 

25 unto her highness, and public authority, whereof her 
majesty mindeth to see due punishment according to the 
order of her highness' laws. Nevertheless, as her high- 
ness mindeth not hereby to restrain and discourage any 
of her loving subjects to give from time to time true 

)o information against any such offenders in the causes 
abovesaid unto her grace or her council, for the punish- 
ment of every such offender, according to the effect of 
her highness' laws provided in that part ; so her said 
highness exhorteth, and straitly chargeth her said sub- 
is jects to observe her commandment and pleasure in every 
part aforesaid, as they will avoid her highness' said in- 



i 



106 Bulla legationis [XXIX. 

dignation, and most grievous displeasure. The severity 
and rigour whereof, as her highness shall be most sorry 
to have cause to put the same in execution, so doth she 
utterly determine not to permit such unlawful and re- 
bellious doings of her subjects, whereof may ensue the 5 
danger of her royal estate, to remain unpunished ; but to 
see her said laws touching these points to be throughly 
executed ; which extremities she trusteth all her said 
loving subjects will foresee, dread and avoid: accord- 
ingly her said highness straitly charging and com- 1© 
manding all mayors, sheriffs, justices of peace, bailiffit, 
constables, and all other public officers and ministers, 
diligently to see to the observing and executing of her 
said commandments and pleasure, and to apprehend all 
such as shall willingly offend in this part, committing 15 
the same to the next goal, there to remain without bail 
or mainprize, till upon certificate made to her highness, 
or her privy council of their names and doings, and upon 
examination had of their offences, some further order 
shall be taken for their punishment to the example of «© 
others, according to the effect and tenour of the laws 
aforesaid. Given at our manor of Richmond the 18th 
day of August, in the first year of our most prosperous 
reign. 



XXIX. 

Pap® Rom. Archiepiitc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglus 

JuLiiIII. 4. Tho. Cranmer. ai. i553* Mari^s i. 

Bulla legationis de latere cardinalis Poll. Ex reg. Pole. 

fol. 4. b. 

TULIUS episcopus, servus servorum Dei, dilecto filio 

Beginaldo sanctae Mariae in Cosmedin diacono cardi- ^5 
nali, Polo nuncupate, ad charissimam in Christo filiam 



Bulla legationis] Burnet, H. R. vol. ii. pp* 5 18. 585. Strype, Mem. 
vo[. ill. P. I. pp. 21 1. 246. Ling^d, vol. v. p. 29. 



J 



1553] ^ latere cardinalts Poli, 107 

nostram Mariam Angliae reginam illustrem, et univereum 
Angliae regnum nostro et apostolicae sedis legato de 
latere salutem et apostolicam benedictionem. Si uUo 
unquam tempore licuit, nunc certe expositissime licet 

5 dicere, dextra Domini fecit virtutem. Hanc inquam 
laetissimam vocem licet omnium piorum gaudiis atque 
acclamatione celebrare. Quid enim aliud dicamus, quam 
dextram Domini hanc tam inopinatam rerum conver- 
gionem fecisse, ut florentissimum Angliae regnum ab 

'o Henrico octavo in discidium ab ecclesia catholica seces- 
sionemque seductum, ac deinde Edwardi ejus nati suc- 
cessione in patemo et haereditario errore corroboratum 
atque firmatum, in eum nunc statum repente devenerit, 
ut ad sanctum ovile atque ad ecclesiae catholicae septa 

n revocari facillime posse videatur ? Profecto hoc nihil 
aliud est quam mutatio dextrae excelsi. Defuncto enim 
vita supradicto Edwardo, adnisisque illius sectatoribus, 
qui rerum habenas, qui arces, qui exercitum, qui classem 
obtinebant, regnum alicui ex sua secta deferre, exclusa 

lolegitima haerede, clarissima in Christo filia Maria Angliae 
regina illustri, tunc principe praefati Henrici regis nata, 
quae semper in catholicae fidei unitate permansit, atque, 
ut eis videbatur, voto jam potitis, ecce ille Dominator 
Dominus et terribilis, qui aufert spiritum principum, 

25 cuncta iniquorum commenta dejecit, et repentina animo- 
rum totius regni inclinatione atque motu, ea quam ipsi 
constituerant regia potcstate dejecta, ut ipsa Maria una 
omnium voce regina salutaretur, effecit. Gratia Domino 
Deo nostro, qui non obliviscitur suos ; qui et huic illustri 

jofcBminae praemium fidei suae, invictaeque constantiae pa- 
temum regnum, quod jam humanitus amiserat, divinitus 
detulit ; et hanc non parvam gregis sui partem a recta 
semita jampridem abactam, et pro deserta dispersam, re- 
spicere dignatus est ; quam et non dubitamus, eodem 

^divino fevore perseverante, postquam catholicam princi- 
pem nacta est, etiam ipsam in catholicae fidei viam facile 



108 Bulla legationis. [XXIX. 

conversam iri, et comraunioni ecclesiae restitutam. Cui 
quidem spei sanctaeque fiduciae, quam habemus in Do- 
iniuo, nos pro pastoral! (quae nobis est ab illo commissa) 
universalis eeclesiae cura, et pro ea charitate, qua erga 
Anglicam gentem proprie debemus aflSci, tanquam hi\jus 5 
sanctae sedis, cui sine mentis ullis nostris, sed sola sum mi 
Dei providentia praesidemus, peculiarem filiam, procurata 
olim ab ipsa sede divini illic verbi disseminatione gene- 
ratam, deesse nee volumus nee debemus. Cum igitur 
super hujusmodi tractanda re, negotioque divina ope lo 
conficiendo, et potissimum, cui banc provinciam deman- 
dare possemus, assiduos nostras mentis cogitatus efiun- 
deremus, tu semper nobis, non sane primus, sed solus 
omnium occurristi, quem omnino prae caeteris huic curae 
praeficere debemus. Unde habita super biis cum venera- 15 
bilibus fratribus nostris sanctae Romanae eeclesiae cardi- 
nalibus deliberatione matura, de illorum unanimi assensu 
et consensu, te ad eandem reginam Mariam, et univer- 
sum Angliae regnum nostrum et apostolicae sedis legatum 
delegimus. Sive enim nos natalis terrae tuae, et civium 20 
charitatem, quae in te summa esse debet, et certe est, seu 
linguae ejus gentis et morum sensuumque notitiam, sive 
ob deductum a sanguine regie genus auctoritatem et gra- 
tiam, seu singularem in omni genere prudentiam atque 
eloquentiam, seu, quod caput est, flagrantissimum tuum 15 
erga Deum et Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, ejus- 
que sanctam ecclesiam catholicam amorem atque obser- 
vantiam, multis jam in rebus cognitam atque perspec- 
tam spectaremus ; personam tuam, quam hiis, quas mode 
commemoravimus, et pluribus aliis virtutibus omnium 50 
munerum largitor altissimus exomavit, ad banc lega- 
tionem aptissimam judicavimus. Quamobrem circum- 
spectioni vestrae per praesentes literas mandamus, ut 
munus istud pro eadem tua erga Deum pietate, erga uos 
et sanctam banc sedem reverentia, erga christianam rem- 35 
publicam studio atque amore suscipiens, id pro tua fide. 



1553 •] -^ ^^^ ^*^'* articles, 109 

diligentia, dexteritate exequare; nihilque praetennittas, 
quo minus, Deo bene juvante, optatum legationis fruc- 
tum assequare, in errorem lapsos consolando, atque in 
Dei gratiam et suae sanctse catholicae ecclesiae commu- 

5 nionem restituendo ; cujus rei maxime scilicet in ipsius 
Dei dementia, secundum Deum autem cum in studio, 
prudentia et virtute tua, turn ipsius Mariae reginae in 
Deum pietate, sapientia et devotione spem ponimus. Dat. 
Romae apud sanctam Mariam anno incamationis domi- 

lo nicae 1553. non. Augusti, pontificatus nostri anno IV. 



XXX. 

PafMB Rom. Archiepiiic. Cant. Anno Christi Reg- Angliie 

JuMi in. 4. Tho. Craxmer. 22. '553* Marine i. 

A letter with articles sent from the queen! s majesty unto 
the bishop of London^ a7id by him and his officers at 
her gracious commandment to be in speedy ea^ecution 
with effect^ in the whole diocese^ as well in places 
exempt as not esempt whatsoeve7\ according to the 
tenour and form of the safne. Ex Burnett. Hist. 
Befonn. vol. ii. Append, p. 252. 

Sent by the queen^s majesty'^s commandment in the month of 

March, anno Domini 1553. 

By the queen, 

T> IGHT reverend father in God, right trusty and well 
beloved, we greet you well. And whereas hereto- 

A letter with articles] The most important of these articles was in 
reference to married priests. In this matter bishop Bonner appears to 

15 have acted on his own authority before the articles were issued. In 
the latter end of February he deprived all married priests within his 
diocese of their livings, and commanded them to bring their wives 
within a fortnight in order that they might be divorced. (Strype, 
Cranm. vol. i. p. 471.) The same letter and articles were sent to all 

20 the bishops on the 4th of March, and the consequences that foUowed 
with regard to the parochial clergy are stated at length by Strype, 
Cranm. vol. i. pp. 467-475. Burnet, H. R. vol. ii. pp. 550-556. 
Collier, vol. ii. p. 366. 



110 A letter with articles sent from the [XXX. 

fore in the time of the late reign of our most dearest 
brother king Edward VI. (whose soul God pardon) divers 
notable crimes, excesses and &ults with divers kinds of 
heresies, simony, advoutry, and other enormities, have 
been committed within this our realm and other domi- 5 
nions ; the same continuing yet hitherto in like disorder 
since the beginning of our reign without any correction 
or reformation at all, and the people both of the laity 
and clergy, and chiefly of the clergy, have been given 
to much insolence and ungodliness, greatly to the dis- '® 
pleasure of Almighty God, and very much to our regret 
and evil contentation, and to the slander of other Chris- 
tian realms, and in a manner to the subversion and clear 
defaxjing of this our realm : and remembering our duty 
to Almighty God to be to foresee, as much as in us may 15 
be, that all virtue and godly living should be embraced, 
flourish and increase, and therewith also that all vice 
and ungodly behaviour should be utterly banished, and 
put away, or at the leasf wise so nigh, as might be so 
bridled and kept imder, that godliness and honesty might ^o 
have the overhand ; understanding by very credible re- 
port, and public fame, to our no small heaviness and 
discomfort, that within your diocese, as well in not ex- 
empted as in exempted places, the like disorder and evil 
behaviour hath been done and used, like also to continue «5 
and increase, unless due provision be had and made to 
reform the same (which earnestly in very deed we do 
mind and intend) to the utmost all the ways we can 
possible, trusting in God's furtherance and help in that 
behalf : for these causes, and other most just considera- 30 
tions us moving, we send unto you such certain articles 
of such special matter, as among other things be most 
special and necessary to be now put in execution by you 
and your officers, extending to them by us desired» iild 
the reformation aforesaid; wherein ye shall be chaiged^s 
with our special commandments by these our letters, to 
the intent you and your officers may the more earnestly 



^553'^ yM«^'« majesty to the Bp, of Lmdm. Ill 

and boldly proceed thereunto, without fear of any pre- 
sumption to be noted on your part, or danger to be in- 
curred of any such our laws, as by your doings of that is 
in the said articles contained, might any wise grieve you, 
5 whatsoever be threatened in any such case ; and there- 
fore we straitly charge and command you, and your said 
officers, to proceed to the execution of the said articles 
without all tract and delay, as ye will answer to the con- 
trary. Given under our hand at our palace of West- 
'o minster the fourth day of March, the first year of our 
reign. 

ARTICLES. 

1. That every bishop and his officers, with all other 
having ecclesiastical jurisdiction, shall with all speed and 

'5 diligence, and all manners and ways to them possible, 
put in execution all such canons and ecclesiastical laws 
heretofore in the time of king Henry VIII. used within 
this realm of England, and the dominions of the same, 
not being direct and expressly contrary to the laws and 

«o statutes of this realm. 

2. Item, That no bishop, or any his officers, or other 
person aforesaid, hereafter in any of their ecclesiastical 
writings in process, or other extrajudicial acts, do use 
to put in this clause or sentence : " Regia auctoritate 

25 fiilcitus." 

3. Item, That no bishop, or any his officers, or other 
person aforesaid, do hereafter exact or demand in the 
admission of any person to any ecclesiastical promotion, 
orders, or office, any oath touching the primacy or suc- 

30 cession, as of late in few years passed hath been accus- 
tomed and used. 

4. Item, That every bishop, and his officers, with all 
other persons aforesaid, have a vigilant eye, and use 
special diligence and foresight, that no person be ad- 

35 mitted or received to any ecclesiastical function, benefit. 



112 A letter with artide$ neiUfrom the [XXX. 

or office, being a sacramentaiy, infected or defamed with 
any notable kind of heresy, or other great crime. And 
that the said bishop do stay, and cause to be stayed, 
as much as lieth in him, that benefices and ecclesiastical 
promotions do not notably decay, or take hinderance, by 5 
passing or confirming of unreasonable leases. 

5. Item, That every bishop, and all other persons 
aforesaid, do diligently travel for the repressing of 
heresies, and notable crimes, especially in the clergy, 
duly correcting and punishing the same. 'o 

6. Item, That every bishop, and all other persons 
aforesaid, do likewise travel for the condemning and 
repressing of corrupt and naughty opinions, unlawful 
books, ballads, and other pernicious, and hurtful devises, 
engendering hatred among the people, and discord '5 
among the same ; and that schoolmasters, preachers, and 
teachers, do exercise and use their offices and duties 
without teaching, preaching, or setting forth any evil 
corrupt doctrine ; and that doing the contrary, they may 
be by the bishop and his said officers punished and ao 
removed. 

7. Item, That every ^ishop, and all the other persons 
aforesaid, proceeding summarily, kai with all celerity 
and speed, may, and shall deprive, or declare deprived, 
and amove according to their iearriing and discretion all »s 
such persons from their benefices and ecclesiastical pro- 
motions, who, contrary to the state of their order, and 
the laudable custom of the church, Imve married and 
used women as their wives, or otherwise notably and 
slanderously disordered or abused themselves; seques-ao 
tering also, during the said process, the fruits and profitB 
of the said benefits and ecclesiastical promotions. 

8. Item, That the said bishop, and all other persons 
aforesaid, do use more lenity and clemency with radi 
as have married, whose wives be dead, than with othem» 55 
whose women do yet remain in life ; and likewise mxHk 



^SSS'l sent from the queerCs majesty. 113 

priests as with the consents of their wives, or women 
openly in the presence of the bishop, do profess to 
abstain, to be used the more favourably : in which case 
after penance effectually done, the bishop according to 

5 his discretion and wisdom may upon just consideration 
receive and admit them again to their former adminis- 
tration, so it be not in the same place ; appointing them 
such a portion to live upon, to t)e paid out of their 
benefice, whereof they be deprived, by discretion of the 

lo said bishop, or his officers, as they shall think may be 
spared of the said benefice. 

9. Item, That every bishop, and all persons aforesaid, 
do foresee, that they suffer not any religious man, having 
solemnly professed chastity, to continue with his woman 

15 or wife ; but that all such persons after deprivation of 
their benefice, or ecclesiastical promotion, be also divorced 
every one from his said woman, and due punishment 
otherwise taken for the offence therein. 

10. Item, That every bishop, and all other persons 
so aforesaid, do take order and direction, with the parish- 
ioners of every benefice, where priests do want, to repair 
to the next parish for divine service ; or to appoint for 
a convenient time, till other better provision may be 
made, one curate to serve " altemis vicibus" in divers 

35 parishes, and to allot to the said curate for his labour 
some portion of the benefice, that he so serveth. 

11. Item, That all, and all manner of processions of 
the church be used, frequented, and continued after the 
old order of the church in the Latin tongue. 

^ 12. Item, That all such holy-days, and fasting-days 

be observed and kept, as was observed and kept in the 

late time of king Henry VIII. 

13. Item, That the laudable and honest ceremonies, 

whidi were wont to be used, frequented, and observed 
35 in the chiireh, be also hereafter frequented, used, and 

observed. 

VOL. I. I 



114 A letter with ariides sent from the queen. [XXX. 

14. Item, That children be christened by the priest, 
and confirmed by the bishops, as heretofore hath been 
accustomed and used. 

15. Item, Touching such persons as were heretofore 
promoted to any orders after the new sort and fashion s 
of orders, considering they were not ordered in very 
deed, the bishop of the diocese finding otherwise suffi- 
ciency, and ability in those men, may supply that thing, 
which wanted in them before; and then according to 
his discretion admit them to minister. lo 

16. Item, That by the bishop of the diocese an uniform 
doctrine be set forth by homUies, or otherwise for the 
good instruction and teaching of all people ; and that the 
said bishop, and- other persons aforesaid, do compel the 
parishioners to come to their several churches, and there 15 
devoutly to hear divine service, as of reason they ought. 

17. Item, That they examine all schoolmasters and 
teachers of children, and finding them suspect in any 
ways, to remove them, and place catholic men in their 
rooms, with a special commandment to mstruct their ao 
children, so as they may be able to answer the priest at 
the mass, and so help the priest to mass, as hath been 
accustomed. 

18. Item, That the said bishop, and all persons afore- 
said, have such regard, respect and considerations of 95 
and for the setting forth of the premises with all kind 
of virtue, godly living, and good example, with repress- 
ing also and keeping under of vice and unthriftiness, as 
they, and every of them may be seen to &vour the 
restitution of true religion ; and also to make an honest $0 
account and reckoning of their office and cure to the 
honour of God, our good contentation, and the profit of 
tliis realm, and dominions of the same. 

Eaedem hae literae cum articulis custodibus spirituali- 
tatis archiepiscopatus Eboracensis a r^;ina miss® sunt. 35 
Reg. dec. et cap. Ebor. fol. 651. 



1553-1 Memdatum ^iseopi London. 115 



XXXI. 

Paps Rom. Archiqiisc Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angli» 

JuLii III. 4. Tho. Crakmeh. 32. 1553* Mari^c I. 

Mandaium ephcopi London, omnibus Cantuar. provincice 
ecclesiis de provisione eorum, quce ad cultum divinum 
et sacramentorum administrationem pertinent — Ex Fox 
pr. edit. fol. 925. 

TpDMUNDUS, &c. universis, &c. Quia jure id exi- 
gente ac aequitate etiam suadente, parochiani eccle- 
siarum singularum Cantuariensis provinciae, quae neces- 
saria aut opportuna sunt ad cultum divinum sacramen- 
5 torum, ac sacramentalium administrationem, providere 
debite et congruenter tenentur, ac inter caetera, calicem, 
libroSy vestimenta, vasa, ac alia omamenta pro divinis 
obsequiis, et servitiis qualitercunque apta et requisita 
comparare; et insuper, quia parochiani ipsi pro anima- 

fo ram salute ad ecclesias suas accedere, missam officiaque 
divina audire, confessionemque auricularem facere, ac 
yenerandum eucharistias sacramentum religiose et devote 
(praesertim temporibus ad id statutis et consuetis) susci- 
pere simili modo ex ordinatione ecclesiae catholicae, et 

'5 laudabili ejusdem consuetudine astringuntur ; deinde, 
quia ex fide dignorum multorum relatione fida, factique 
notorietate, ac fama publica referente intelleximus, quod 
nonnulli parochiani nostras Londinensis dioecesis Can- 
tuariensisque provincial pra&missa, aut eorum aliqua sic 

«o providere, comparare, accedere, audire, facere et susci- 
pere, vol onmino contemnunt, aut saltem plus aequo, et 
justo, diflferunt: nos volentes (prout ex officio debito 
tenemur) congruam in eisdem reformationem ac debitam 
provisionem adhibere, vobis conjunctim et divisim tenore 

S5 praesentium committimus ac mandamus, quatenus recep* 
tis praesentibus, una Cum schedula eisdem annexa, pare- 

i2 



116 Mandatvm episcapi London. [XXXI. 

chianos cujuscunque parochiae infra dioece&im nostram 
London, ubilibet in exemptis et non exemptis locis qui- 
buscunque in praemissis, aut eorum aliquibus cessatores 
aut negligentes, vel culpabiles qualitercunque existentes, 
moneatis, quos etiam uos tenore praesentium prime, secun- 5 
do, et tertio ac peremptorie monemus ; quod parochiani 
omnes et singuli ad praemissa omnia et singula facienda 
et expedienda, quatenus eos quovismodo tangunt aut con- 
cernunt, cum adnexis, connexis, dependentibus, ac debitis 
circumstantiis, diligenter se praeparent, eaque faciant, ac lo 
fieri debite procurent ante festum Paschas proximo fatu- 
rum, mora et culpa quibuscunque cessantibus. Porro si 
cessatores ipsi, ac negligentes, y^I culpabiles aut remissi 
sic per vos moniti, ilia aut eorum aliqua sic facere, aut 
perimplere non curaverint aut distulerint ; time et in 15 
eum eventum eos omnes et singulos sic cessantes, neg- 
ligentesy culpabiles vel remissos in hac parte auctoritate 
nostra citetis, seu citari faciatis peremptorie, quod illi ac 
eorum quilibet coram nobis, seu nostro in spiritualibus 
vicario generali, aut commissario nostro quocunque in«o 
ecclesia nostra cathedrali divi Pauli London, loco con- 
sistorii ibidem die Veneris (videlicet sexto die mensis 
Aprilis proxime future post datam praesentium) hora 
causarum consueta personaliter compareant et compareat, 
causam rationabilem et legitimam (si quam pro se bar- as 
beant, aut habeat, quare ob eorum culpam et negligen- 
tiam hujusmodi excommimicari, aut aliter debite juxta 
juris exigentiam corrigi, et puniri non debeant et debeat) 
in juris forma dicturi, allegaturi, et proposituri, ulterioB- 
que facturi, et recepturi, quod juris fuerit et rationis. s^ 
Et quid in praemissis, &c. Nos autem dictum nostmnt 
vicarium, &c. dictis die, hora et loco, una cum nominibos 
omnium et singulorum in ea parte monitorum et citar- 
tonim debite certificetis, una cum praesentibus. Datum 
Londini 8. die Martii A. D. secundum cuigum, &to^ lfi58. 35 
et nostras translationis anno decimo quinto. 



^553-] Sulla papce Jwin III. 1 17 



XXXII. 

Pape Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christ! Reg. Augliae 

JULII III. 5. ThO. CrANMER. 12. 1553* MxRIiE 1. 

Bulla papce Jtdii III. potestatem concedeiis cardifiali Polo 
Angliam ecchsice Romance reuniendi. — Impress. Lon- 
dini 1685. 

Julius papa III. 

l^ILECTE fill noster, salutem et apostolicam bene- 

dictionem. Dudum cum cbarissima in Christo filia 

nostra Maria Angliae tunc princeps regina declarata fu- 

issety et speraretur regnum Angliae, quod saeva tyrannide 

B ab unione sanctae ecclesiae catholicae separatum fuerat, 
ad ovile gregis Domini et ejusdem ecclesiae unionem, 
ipsa Maria primum regnante, redire posse ; nos te, prae- 
stanti virtute, singulari pietate, ac multa doctrina insig- 
nem ad eandem Mariam reginam, et universum Angliae 

«o regnum de firatrum nostrorum consilio et unauimi con- 
sensu nostrum et apostolicae sedis legatum de latere 
destinavimus ; tibique inter caetera omnes et singulos 
utriusque sexus tam laicas quam ecclesiasticas seculares, 
et quorumvis ordinum regulares personas in quibusvis 

15 etiam sacris ordinibus constitutas cujuscunque status, 
gradus, conditionis et qualitatis extiterint, ac quacunque 

Bulla paptB Julii] The first Bull (No. XXIX.), appointing cardinal 
Pole legate a latere, bears date in August 1553, and was drawn up on 
the supposition that he would immediately repair to England. But 

20 tt he was detained by the emperor in Flanders for prudential reasons 
suggested in the first instance by the English court, and afterwards 
approved by the pope, (see Burnet, H. R. vol. ii. p. 520,) it was 
thought necessary to issue another Bull, which bears date the 8th of 
March following, in order that he might be able to appoint his officers, 

15 and exercise his legatine powers, before his actual arrival in the king- 
dom. Strype, Mem. vol. iii. P. i. p. 211. Burnet, H. R. vol. iii. p. 445. 
Collier, vd. iL p. 352. Lingard, vol. v. p. 30. 

I3 



118 BuUa papcB Jvlii III, potegUUem [XXXII. 

ecclesiastica etiam episcopali, archiepiscopali et patriar- 
cbali, aut mundana etiam marchionali, ducali, aut regia 
digiiitate praefulgerent, etiamsi capitulum, collegium, 
miiversitas, seu communitas forent, quarumcunque haere- 
sium aut no varum seetarum professores, aut in eis cul- 5 
pabiles vel suspectas, ac credentes, receptatores et fiiu- 
tores eorum, etiamsi relapsae fuissent, eorum errorem 
cognoscentes, et de illis dolentes, ac ad orthodoxam 
fidem recipi humiliter postulantes, cognita in eis vera 
et non ficta, aut simulata poenitentia, ab omnibus et lo 
singulis per eos perpetratis (haereses, et ab eadem fide 
apostasias, blasphemias et alios quoscunque errores, etiam 
sub generali sermone non venientes sapientibus) pecca- 
tis, criminibus, excessibus et delictis, nee non excommu- 
nicationum, suspensionura, interdictorum, et aliis eccle- 15 
siasticis ac temporalibus etiam corporis afflictivis, et 
capitalibus sententiis, censuris et pcenis in eos praemis- 
sorum occasione a jure vel ab homine latis vel promul- 
gatis, etiamsi in eis viginti et plus annis insorduissent, 
et eorum absolutio nobis et apostolical sedi, et per literas 20 
in die coenae Domini legi consuetas reservata existeret, 
in utroque conscientiae videlicet, et contentioso foro, 
plenarie absolvendi et liberandi, ac aliorum Christi fide- 
lium consortio aggregandi : necnon cum eis super irre- 
gularitate per eos praemissorum occasione, etiam quia 15 
sic ligati, missas, et alia divina officia etiam contra ritus 
et ceremonias ab ecclesia eatenus probatas et usitatas 
celebrassent, aut illis alias se miscuissent, contracta; 
necnon bigamia per eosdem ecclesiasticos, seculares vel 
regulares, vere aut ficte, seu alias qualitercunque incnrsa 3« 
(etiamsi ex eo quod clerici in sacris constituti cum vidnis 
vel aliis corruptis matrimonium contraxissent praeten- 
deretur) rejectis et expulsis tamen prius uxoribus, sic de 
facto copulatis ; quodque bigamia et irregularitate, ac 
aliis praemissis non obstantibus in eorum ordinibus, dum- 55 
modo ante eorum lapsum in haeresin hujusmodi rite et 



1553-] concedens eardinaU Polo. 119 

legitime promoti vel ordinati fuissent, etiam in altajis 
ministerio ministrare, ac quaecunque et qualitercimque 
etiam cmuta beneficia, secularia vel regularia ut prius, 
dummodo super eis alteri jus quaesitum non existeret, 
5 retinere ; et non promoti ad omnes etiam sacros et pres- 
byteratus ordines ab eorum ordinariis, si digni et idonei 
reperti fiiissent, promoveri, ac beneficia eeclesiastica, si 
iis alias canonice conferentur, recipere et retinere vale- 
rent, dispensandi et indulgendi ; ac omnem infamiae et 

lo inhabilitatis maculam, sive notam ex prsemissis quomo- 
dolibet insurgentem, penitus et omnino abolendi, nee 
non ad pristinos honores, dignitates, famam et patriam, 
et bona etiam confiscata in pristinumque, et eum, in quo 
ante praemissa quomodolibet erant, statum restituendi, 

»5 reponendi, et reintegrandi ; ac eis, dummodo corde con- 
triti, eorum errata et excessus alicui per eos eligendo 
catholico confessori, sacramentaliter confiterentur, ac poe- 
nitentiam salutarem eis per ipsum confessorem propterea 
injungendam omnino adimplerent, omnem publicam con- 

2ofessionem, abjurationem, renuntiationem et poenitentiam 
jure debitam, arbitrio suo moderandi vel in totum re- 
mittendi ; necnon communitates et universitates, ac sin^ 
gulares personas quascunque, a quibusvis illicitis pactio- 
nibus, et conventionibus per eos cum dominis aberranti- 

25 bus, sen in eorum favorem quomodolibet initis, et iis 
praestitis juramentis et homagiis, illorumque onmium 
observatione, et si quem eatenus occasione eorum incur- 
rissent perjurii reatum, etiam absolvendi et juramento 
ipsa relaxandi ; ac quoscunque regulares et religiosos 

30 etiam in haeresin hujusmodi, ut praefertur, lapses, extra 
eorum regularia loca absque dictae sedis licentia vagan- 
tes, ab apostasias reatu, et excommunicationis, aliisque 
censuris ac poenis ecclesiasticis, per eos propterea etiam 
juxta suorum ordinum instituta incursis, pariter absol- 

35 vendi ; ac cum eis ut alicui beneficio ecclesiastico curato 
de illud obtinentis consensu, etiam in habitu clerici se- 

i4 



120 BuUa papce Julii III. patestatem [XXXII. 

cularis, babitum suum regularem sub boaesta toga pres- 
byteri secularis deferendo, deservire, et extra eadem re- 
gularia loca remanere libere et licite possint^ dkpensandi; 
necnon quibusvis personis etiam ecclesiasticis ut quad- 
ragesimalibus et aliis anni temporibus et diebus, quibus 5 
usus ovorum et eamium est de jure prohibituSy butiro 
et caseo, et aliis lacticiniis, ac dictis ovis et camibus de 
utriusque seu alterius spiritualis, qui catholicus existeret^ 
medici consilio, aut si locorum et personarum qualitate 
inspecta, ex defectu piscium aut olei, vel indispositione 10 
personarum earundem, seu alia causa legitima id tibi 
faciendum videretur, ut tuo arbitrio uti et yesci possint^ 
indulgendi et concedendi ; necnon per te in prseteritis 
duntaxat casibus, aliquos clericos seculares, tantum pres- 
byteroSy diaconos aut subdiaconos, qui matrimonium cum 15 
aliquibus virginibus, vel corruptis secularibus etiam mu- 
lieribus, de facto eatenus contraxissent, considerata ali- 
qua ipsorum singulari quaUtate, et cognita eorum vera 
ad Christi fidem conversione, ac aliis circumstantiis ac 
modificationibus tuo tantum arbitrio adhibendis, ex qui- ^ 
bus aliis praesertim clericis in sacris ordinibus hujusmodi 
constitutis, quibus non licet uxores habere, scandalum 
omnino non generetur ; citra tamen altaris ac alia sacer- 
dotum ministeria, et titulos beneficiorum ecclesiastico- 
rum, ac omni ipsorum ordinum exercitio sublato abs5 
excommunicationis sententia, et aliis reatibus propterea 
incursis, injuncta inde eis etiam tuo arbitrio poenitentia 
salutari, absolvendi, ac cum eis dummodo alter eorum 
superstes remaneret, de caetero sine spe conjugii, quod 
inter se matrimonium legitime contrahere, et in eo post- 30 
quam contractum foret, licite remanere possent, prolem 
exinde legitimam decemendo, misericorditer dispensandi ; 
ac quaecunque beneiicia ecclesiastica, tam secularia, quam 
regularia, et quae per rectores catholicos posoidebantur, 
de ipsorum tamen rectorum catholicorum consensu, sen 55 
abs(|ue eorum praejudicio, cuieunque alter! benefioio 



'553-1 eon^oedens cardinaU Polo. Itl 

ecclesiastico ob ejus fructus tenuitatem, aut hospitali 
jam erecto Tel erigendo, seu studio nniversali vel scholis 
literariis, tmiendi, annectendi, et incorporandi, aut fruc* 
tug, reditus et proyentus, seu bonorum beneficiorum di- 

5 yidendi, separandi et dismembrandi, ac eorum sic diviso* 
ram, separatorum et dismembratorum partem aliis bene- 
ficiis seu hospitalibus Tel studiis aut scholis seu piis 
usibus similiter arbitrio tuo perpetuo applicandi et ap- 
propriandi : *^ Ac cum possessoribus bonorum ecclesias- 

loticorum (restitutis prius, si tibi expedire Tideretur, im- 
mobilibus per eos indebite detentis) super fructibus male 
peiceptis, ac bonis mobilibus consumptis, concordandi et 
transigendi ac eos desuper liberandi et quietandi:" ac 
quicquid concordiis et transactionibus hujusmodi proTe- 

15 niret in ecclesia, cujus essent bona, Tel in studiornm 
uniTersalium aut scholarum hujusmodi, seu alios pios 
usus couTertendi, onmiaque et singula alia, in quae in 
praemissis et circa ea quomodollbet necessaria et oppor<- 
tuna esse cognosceres, faciendi, dicendi, gerendi et exer«- 

M cendi ; necnon catholicos locorum ordinaries, aut alias 
personas Deum timentes, fide insignes, et literarum 
scientia praeditas, ac graTitate morum conspicuas et aetate 
Teneranda, de quarum probitate et circumspectione ac 
charitatis zelo plena fiducia conspici posset, ad praemissa 

«5 omnia cum simili Tel limitata potestate (absolutione et 
dispensatione clericorum circa connubia, ac unione bene- 
ficiorum, seu eorum fnictuum et bonorum separatione et 
applicatione ac concordia cum possessoribus bonorum 
ecclesiasticorum et eorum liberatorum dimtaxat exceptis) 

10 substituendi et subdelegandi ; ac diyersas alias facultates 
per diTcrsas alias nostras tarn sub plumbo quam in forma 
breTis confectas literas, concessimus, prout in illis plenius 
continetur. Verum cum tu ad partes Flandriae, ex qui- 
bus breyissima ad regnum transfretatio existit, te contu- 

u leris, ac ex certis rationibus nobis notis inibi aliquamdiu 
sabsistere habeas, ac a nonnullis nimium forsan scrupup 



122 BuOapofcB JuUi III. poieskUem' [XXXII. 

lofiis haesitetur, an tu in partibus hujusmodi subfiistens, 
praedictis ac aliis tibi concessis fiEU^uItatibus uti, ac in 
eodeifi regno locorum ordinaries aut alias personas, ut 
praemittitur, qualificatas, quae facultatibus per te jnxta 
dictarum literarum continentiam pro tempore concessis 5 
utantur, alias juxta earundem literarum tenorem substi- 
tuere et delegare possis; nos causam tuae subsistentiae 
in eisdem partibus approbantes, et singularum literarum 
praedictarum tenores, praesentibus pro sufficienter ex- 
pressis, ac de verbo ad verbum insertis, habentes, cir- »<> 
cumspectioni tuae quod quamdiu in eisdem partibus de 
licentia nostra moram traxeris, legatione tua praedicta 
durante, etiam extra ipsum regnum existens, omnibus et 
singulis praedictis et quibusvis aliis tibi concessis, et quae 
per praesentes tibi conceduntur, &cultatibus, etiam erga 15 
quoscunque archiepiscopos, episcopos ac abbates, alio&- 
que ecclesiarum tarn secularium, quam quorumvis ordi- 
num regularium, necnon monasteriorum et aliorum re- 
gularium locorum praelatos, non secus ac erga alios in« 
feriores clericos, uti possis ; necnon erga alias personas ^o 
in singulis Uteris praedictis quovismodo nominatas, ad te 
pro tempore recurrentes vel mittentes; etiam circa or- 
dines, quos nunquam aut male susceperunt, et munus 
consecrationis, quod iis ab aliis episcopis vel arcbie- 
piscopis etiam haereticis et schismaticis, aut alias minus >5 
rite, et non servata forma ecclesiae consueta, impensum 
fiiit, etiamsi ordines et munus hujusmodi etiam circa 
altaris ministerium temere executi sint, per tiepsum, 
vel alios ad id a te pro tempore deputatos, libere uti; 
ac in eodem regno tot, quot tibi videbuntur, locorum jo 
ordinaries yel alias personas, ut praemittitur, qualificatas, 
quae facultatibus per te eis pro tempore concessis (citra 
tamen eas quae solum tibi, ut praefertur, concessae ex- 
istunt) etiam te in partibus Flandriae hujusmodi subsis- 
tente, libere utantur, et eaa exerceant et exequantur, 35 
alias juxta ipsarum literarum continentiam ac tenorem 



1553'] eoncedem cardinaU Pch. 1S8 

substituere et subdelegare ; necnon de personis quorum- 
cunque episcoporum vel archiepiscoporum, qui metro- 
politanam aut alias cathedrales ecclesias de manu laico- 
ram etiam schismaticorum, et prsesertim qui de Hemici 
5 regis et Edwardi ejus nati receperunt, et eorum regimini 
et administrationi se ingesserunt, et eorum fructus, redi- 
tus, et proventus etiam longissimo tempore tanquam yen 
airchiepiscopi aut episcopi temere et de facto usurpando^ 
etiamsi in haeresin, ut praefertur, inciderint, seu antea 
lohaeretici fiierint, postquam per te unitati sanctae matris 
ecclesiffi restituti extiterint, tuque eos rehabilitamlos 
esse censueris, si tibi alias digni et idonei videbuntur, 
eisdem metropolitanis et aliis cathedralibus ecclesiis de- 
nuo, nee non quibusvis aliis cathedralibus etiam metro- 
is politanis ecclesiis per obitum vel privationem illarum 
praesulum, sen alias quovismodo pro tempore vacantibus, 
de personis idoneis, pro qtiibus ipsa Maria regina juxta 
consuetudines ipsius regni tibi supplicaverit, auctoritate 
nostra providere, ipsasque personas eisdem ecclesiis in 
30 episcopos aut archiepiscopos praeficere ; ac cum iis qui 
ecclesias cathedrales et metropolitanas, de manu laico- 
rum etiam schismaticorum, ut praefertur, receperunt, 
quod eisdem seu aliis, ad quas eas alias rite transferri 
contigerit, cathedralibus etiam metropolitanis ecclesiis, 
ts in episcopos vel archiepiscopos praeesse, ipsasque eccle- 
sias in spiritualibus et temporalibus regere et gubemare, 
ac munere consecrationis eis hactenus impenso uti ; vel 
si illud eis nondum impensum extiterit, ab episcopis vel 
archiepiscopis catholicis per te nominandis suscipere li- 
30 here et licite possint ; necnon cum quibusvis per te, ut 
praemittitur, pro tempore absolutis et rehabilitatis, ut 
eorum erroribus et excessibus praeteritis, non obstantibus 
quibusvis cathedralibus etiam metropolitanis ecclesiis, in 
episcopos et archiepiscopos praefici et praeesse, illasque 
35 in eisdem spiritualibus et temporalibus regere et guber- 
nare; ac ad quoscunque etiam sa«ros et presbyteratus 



124 Articles o/inHtatim by tishcp Banner, [XXXIII. 

ordines promoverey et in illis aut per eos jam licet minus 
rite susceptis ordinibus etiam in altariB ministerio minis- 
trare, nee non mmius consecrationis suscipere et illo uti 
libere et licite valeant, dispensare etiam libere et licite 
possis, plenam et liberam apostolicam auctoritatem per 5 
praesentes concedimus £Eu»iltatem et potestatem ; non 
obstantibus constitutionibus et ordinationibus apostolicis, 
ac omnibus illis quae in singulis Uteris praeteritis volui- 
mus non obstare, caeterisque contrariis quibuscunque. 
Datum Romae apud sanctum Petrum sub annulo pisca- 10 
tons die 8. Martii 1554. pontificatus nostri anno 5. 



XXXIII. 

Pap« Rom. Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angliie 

JuLii III. 5. Tiio. Cranmer. 23, 1554- Maria 2. 

Articles of visitation hy bishop Bonner. Ex reg. Bonner 
et Burnet, Hist. Reform, vol. ii. append, p. 260, &c. 

A RTICLES to be inquired of in the general visitation 
of Edmund, bishop of London, exercised by him in 
the year of our Lord God 1554, in the city and diocese 
of London, and set forth by the same for his own dis- 
charge towards God and the world, to the honour of 
God, and his catholic church, and to the commodity and 
profit of all those, that either are good (which he would 
were all) or delight in goodness (which he wisheth to 
be many) without any particular grudge or displeasure 

Articles of vm/o/ion] Strype, Mem. vol. iii. P. !• p. ai6. P. a. 
p. 217. Buraet, H. R. vol. ii. p. 579. P. a. p. 364. CJollier, vol. ii. 
p. 371. A bitter invective against these articles was published by 
Bale in 1554, entitled, " A declaration of Edmond Boner's articles 
concerning the clergy of London diocese ; whereby that esecrBUe H 
Antichrist is in his right colours revealed." 



I554-] Articles o/wsitation by bishop Bonmer. 125 

to any one, good or bad, within this realm ; which: arti- 
cles he desireth all men of their charity, ei^eciaUy those 
that are of his diocese, to take with as good intent and 
mind, as the said bishop wisheth and desireth, which is 
5 to the best : and the said bishop withal desireth all 
people to understand, that whatsoever opinion, good or 
bad, hath been received of him, or whatsoever usage or 
custom hath been heretofore, his only intent and pur- 
pose is to do his duty charitably, and with that love, fa- 
'o vour, and respect, both towards God, and every Christian 
person, which any bishop should shew to his flock in any 
wise. 

Article I. 

Whether the clergy, to give example to laity, have in 
their living, in their teaching, and in their doing so he- 
's haved themselves, that they (in the judgment of indif- 
ferent persons) have declared themselves to search prin- 
cipally the honour of God, and his church, the health of 
the souls of such as are committed to their cure and 
charge, the quietness of their parishioners, and the wealth 
20 and honour of the king and queen of this realm ? 

Article II. 

Item, Whether your parson, vicar, or any other mi- 
nistering ss priest within your parish, have been or is 
married, or taken for married, not yet separated from his 
concubine, or woman taken for wife ; or whether the 
25 same woman be dead, or yet living ? and being living, 
whether the one resorteth to the other, openly, secretly, 
or slanderously maintaining, supporting, or finding the 
same in any wise, to the offence of the people ? 

Article III. 

Item, Whether there be any person of what estate, 
30 condition, or degree he be, that doth in open talk, or 



126 Afiidsi o/vmtatim hy Ushop Bonner. [XXXIII. 

privily defend, maintain, or uphold the marriage of 
priests, encouraging or boldening any person to the de- 
fence thereof? 

Article IV. 

Item, Whether you have your parson or vicar resident 
continually with you upon his benefice, doing his duty 5 
in the serving of the cure? and whether being able, he 
do keep hospitality upon the same, feeding his flock 
with his good living, with his teaching, and his relieving 
of them to his power ? 

Akticle V. 

Item, Whether your parson or vicar being absent, ><> 
have sufficient dispensation, and license therein? and 
whether in his absence he do appoint an able, honest, 
and sufficient learned curate to supply his room and 
absence, to serve his cure ? 

Article VI. 

Item, Whether your parson or vicar by himself, or his ^5 
good and sufficient deputy for him, do relieve his poor 
parishioners, repair and maintain his house or mansion, 
and things thereunto appertaining, and otherwise do his 
duty, as by the order of the law, and custom of this 
realm he ought to do? to 

Article VII. 

Item, Whether the said curate appointed in the ab- 
sence of your parson or vicar, do in all points the best 
he can to minister the sacraments and sacramentals, and 
other his duty in serving the same cure, especially in 
celebrating divine service at convenient hours, chiefly 95 
upon Sundays and holy-days and procession days; and 
ministering the said sacraments and sacramentals» as of 
duty and reason he ought, moving and exhorting 



'554-] Articles of visitation by bishop Bonner. 127 

earnestly his parishioners to come unto it, and devoutly 
to hear the same? and whether he himself do re* 
verently celebrate, minister, and use the same as apper- 
taineth ? 

Article VIII. 

5 Item, Whether he the said curate, parson, or yicar 
have been or is of suspect doctrine, erroneous opinion, 
misbelief, or evil judgment, or do set forth, preach, fiEi- 
vour, aid, and maintain the same, contrary to the catholic 
faith and order of this reahn ? 

Article IX. 

»« Item, Whether they, or any of them, do haunt or re- 
sort to alehouses or taverns, otherwise than for his or 
their honest necessity and relief; or repair to any dicing 
houses, common bowling alleys, suspect houses or places, 
or do haunt and use common games or plays, or behave 

'5 themselves otherwise unpriestly and unseemly ? 

Article X. 

Item, Whether they, or any of them, be familiar, or 
keep company, and be conversant vrith any suspect per- 
son of evil conversation and living, or erroneous opinion 
or doctrine; or be noted to aid, favour and assist the 
so same in any wise contrary to the good order of this 
realm, and the usage of the catholic church ? 

Article XI. 

Item, Whether there be dwelling within any your 
parishes any priest, foreigner, stranger, or other, who not 
presented to the bishop of the diocese, or his officers, 
25 examined and admitted by some one of them, doth take 
upon him to serve any cure, or to minister any sacra- 
ments, or sacramentals within the said parish ? 



1S8 Artides ofvitikxtum by Ushop Bcimer. [XXXIII. 

Article XII. 

Item, Whether there be dwelling within any your 
parishes, or repairing thither any priest or other naming 
himself minister, which doth not come diligently to the 
church to hear the divine service, or sermons there ; but 
absenteth himself or discourageth others by his example 5 
or words to come unto the same, expressing their name 
and surname, with suflScient knowledge of them ? 

Article XIII. 

Item, Whether there be any married priests, or nam- 
ing themselves ministers, that do keep any assemblies 
or conventicles with such like, as they are in office or lo 
sect, to set forth any doctrine or usage not allowed by the 
laws and laudable customs of this realm? or whether 
there be any resort of any of them to any place for any 
private lectures, sermons, plays, games, or other devices 
not expressly in this realm by laws allowed ? 15 

Article XIV. 

Item, Whether there be any of them, which is a 
common brawler, scolder, a sower of discord among his 
parishioners, a hawker, a hunter, or spending his time 
idly or unthrifbily? or being a fornicator, an adulterer, 
a drunkard, a common swearer, or blasphemer of God, *<> 
or his saints? or an unruly and evil disposed person? or 
that hath come to his benefice or promotion by simony, 
unlawful suit, or ungodly means in any ways ? 

Article XV. 

Item, Whether they, and every of them, to the best 
of their powers, at all times have exhorted and stirred n 
the people to quietness and concord, and to the obe- 
dience of the king and queen's miyesties, and their 



1 554-] Articles o/pmUUion hy bishop Bonner. 1S9 

officers ; rebuking all sedition and tumult, with all un- 
lawful assemblies, moving the people to charity and good 
order, and charging the fathers and mothers, masters 
and governors of youth to keep good rule, and to instruct 
5 them in virtue and goodness to the honour of God, and 
of this realm, and to have them occupied in some honest 
art and occupation to get their living thereby ? 

Article XVI. 

Item, Whether they, or any of them do admit any 
person to receive the blessed sacrament of the altar, who 

loare openly known or suspected to be adversaries and 
speakers against the said sacrament, or any other article 
of the catholic &ith, or to be a notorious evil person in 
his conversation or doctrine, an open oppressor or evil 
doer to his neighbour, not being confessed, reconciled, 

15 and having made satisfiiction in that behalf? 

Article XVII. 

Item, Whether they, or any of them have, of their 
own authority, admitted and licensed any to preach in 
their cure, not being authorized and admitted thereunto, 
or have denied or refused such to preach as have been 
20 lawfully licensed ? and whether they or any of them 
having authority to preach within their cures, doth use 
to preach, or at the least doth procure other lavrful or 
sufficient persons to do the same according to the order 
of this realm ? 

Article XVIIT. 

25 Item, Whether they or any of them, since the queen's 
majesty's proclamation, hath or doth use to say or sing 
the divine service, minister the sacraments or sacra- 
mentals, or other things, in English contrary to the 
order of this realm ? 

VOL. I. K 



130 Articles o/msitaticm by bishop Bonner. [XXXIII. 

Article XIX. 

Item, Whether they, or any of them in their suffrages, 
collects, and prayers doth use to pray for the king and 
queen's majesties, by the names of king Philip and queen 
Mary, according to a letter and commandment therein 
lawfully given now of late unto them by their ordinary ? 5 

Article XX. 

Item, Whether they, and every of them have dili- 
gently moved and exhorted their parishioners, how and 
in what manner children should be baptized in time of 
necessity ; and they the said parishioners reverently and 
devoutly to prepare themselves to receive and use the 'o 
sacraments, especially the sacrament of the altar? and 
whether any person have refused or contemned to receive 
the said sacrament of the altar, or to be confessed and 
receive at the priest's hand the benefit of absolution 
according to the laudable custom of this realm? >5 

Article XXI. 

Item, Whether they, and every of them hath dili- 
gently visited his and theu- parishioners in the time of 
sickness and need, and ministered sacraments and sacra- 
mentals to them accordingly? and whether they have 
exhorted and monished them to have due respect to *<> 
their souls' health, and also to set an order in their tern- 
poral lands and goods, declaring their debts perfectly, 
and what is owing unto them; and they so to make 
their testaments and last wills, that as much as may be, 
all trouble and business may be excluded, their wives >5 
and children with their friends may be holpen and suc- 
coured, and themselves decently buried and prayed for, 
and to have an honest memory and commendations for 
their so doing ? 



^ 554-1 AHicleg of msitcUion hy bishop Bmner. 131 

Article XXII. 

Item, Whether they, and every of them have solem- 
nized matrimony between any his parishioners, or any 
other persons, the bans not before asked three several 
Sundays, or holy-days, or without certificate of the said 

5 bans from the curate of any other parish, if any of them 
be of another parish ? and whether touching the solenmi- 
zation and use of this sacrament of matripiony, and also 
of all other the sacraments of the church, they have kept 
and observed the old and laudable custom of the church 

lo without any innovation or alteration in any of the same? 

Article XXIII, 

Item, WTiether theiy, and every of them upon the 
Sunday at the service time doth use to set forth, and to 
declare unto the people all such holy-days and fasting 
days, as of godly usage and custom hath heretofore 
"5 laudably been accustomed to be kept and observed in 
the week follo\v1ng and ensuing ? and whether they, and 
every of them doth observe and keep themselves the 
said holy-days and fasting days ? 

Article XXIV. 

Item, Whether the parson, or vicar doth repair and 
2o maintain his chancel and mansion-house in sufficient re- 
paration ? and the same being in decay, whether he doth 
bestow yearly the fifth part of his benefice, till such time 
as the same be sufficiently repaired ; doing also further 
his duty therein, and otherwise as by the law he is 
-5 charged and bound in that behalf, distributing and doing 
as he is bound by the law ? 

Article XXV. 

Item, Whether there be any person, that doth serve 
any cure, or minister any sacraments, not being priest ? 

K 2 



182 Articles of visitation by bishop Bonner. [XXXIII. 

or if any do take upon them to use the room and oflSce 
of the parson, or vicat, or curate of any benefice or spiri- 
tual promotion, receiving the fruits thereof, not being 
admitted thereunto by the ordinary ? 

Article XXVI. 

Item, Whether they, and every of them doth go in 5 
priestly apparel and habit, having their beards and 
crowns shaven? or whether any of them doth go in 
laymens' habits and apparel, or otherwise disguise them- 
selves, that they cannot easily be discovered or known 
from laymen? 10 

Article XXVII. 

Item, Whether they, or any of them have many pro- 
motions and benefices ecclesiastical, cures, secular ser- 
vices, yearly pensions, annuities, farms, or other revenues 
now in title or possession ; and what the names of them 
be, and where they lie, giving all good instruction, and 15 
perfect information therein ? 

Article XXVIII. 

Item, Whether such as have churches or chapels ap- 
propriated, or mansions or houses thereto appertaining, 
do keep their chancels and houses in good and suflficient 
reparation ? and whether they do all things in distribu- 20 
tions and alms or otherwise, as by law and good order 
they ought to do ? 

Article XXIX.* 

Item, Whether any such as were ordered schisma- 

^ Article XXIX,'] ** It appears both by these and the queen's in- 
junctions (see No. XXX. Art. 15.) that they did not pretend to re- «S 
ordam those that had been ordained by the new book in king Edward's 
time ; but to reconcile them, and add those things that were wanting : 
which were the anointing, and giving the priestly vestmentSi with 



^554-] Article of visitation hy bishop Bonner. 183 

tically, and contrary to the old order and custom of the 
catholic church, or being unlawfully and schismatically 
married after the late innovation and manner, being not 
yet reconciled nor admitted by the ordinary, have cele- 
5 brated or said either mass or divine service witliin any 
cure or place of this city or diocese ? 

Article XXX. 

Item, Whether any parson, or vicar, or other having 
ecclesiastical promotions, doth set out the same to farm 
without consent, knowledge and license of his ordinary, 
lo especially for an unreasonable number of years, or with 
such conditions, qualities, or manners, that the same is 
to the great prejudice of the church, and the incumbent 
of the same, and especially of him, that shall succeed 
therein ? 

Article XXXI. 

15 Item, Whether there be any parson, or vicar, curate, 
or priest, that occupieth buying and selling as a mer- 
chant, or occupieth usury, or layeth out his money for 
filthy lucre's sake and gain, to the slander of the priest- 
hood ? 

Article XXXIL 

10 Item, Whether they, or any of them do wear swords, 
daggers, or other weapons in times or places not con- 
venient or seemly ? 

Article XXXIII. 
Item, Whether any priest, or ecclesiastical person have 

other rites of the Roman pontifical Though they only supplied 

25 at this time the defects, which they said were in their former ordina- 
tion, yet afterwards when they proceeded to bum them that were in 
orders, they went upon the old maxim that orders given in schism 
were not valid." Burnet, H. R. voL ii. p. 581. 

K 3 



134 Articles of visitation hy bishop Bonner, [XXXIII. 

reiterated or renewed baptism, which was lawfully done 
before ; or invented or followed any new fashion or fomi 
contrary to the order of the catholic church ? 

Article XXXIV. 

Item, Whether the parson, vicar, or curate do (accord- 
ing to the law) every quarter in the year upon ones 
solemn day or more, that is to wit, upon the Simday or 
solemn feast, when the parishioners by the order of the 
church do come together, expound and declare by him- 
self, or some other suflScient person, unto the people in 
the vulgar or common tongue plainly, truly, and fruit- lo 
fiiUy the articles of the catholic faith ; the ten command- 
ments expressed in the old law ; the two commandments 
of the gospel, or new law, that is, of earnest love to God 
and to our neighbour ; the seven works of mercy ; the 
seven deadly sins, with their offspring, progeny, and 15 
issue ; the seven principal virtues ; and the seven sacra- 
ments of the church ? 

Article XXXV. 

Item, Whether that every priest havmg cure, do ad- 
monish the women, that are with child within his cure, 
to come to confession, and to receive the sacrament, 20 
especially when their time draweth nigh, and to have 
water in readiness to christen the child, if necessity so 
require it ? 

Article XXXVI. 

Item, Whether stipendiary priests do behave them- 
selves discreetly and honestly in all points towards their 35 
parson or vicar, giving an oath, and doing according to 
the law and ecclesiastical constitutions, ordinances, and 
laudable customs in that behalf? 

Article XXXVII. 
Item, Whether any parson, vicar, or other having any 



1554-] -^ mandate of Bonner, bishop of London. 136 

ecclesiastical promotion, have made any alienation of 
any thing pertaining to their church, benefice, or promo- 
tion ; what it is, and what warrant they had so to do ? 



y. 



XXXIV. 

Papae Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi R^. Anglis 

JuLii III. 5. Tiio. Crakmer. 23. '554* Mari^ 2. 

1 mandate of Bonner, bishop of Londori, to abolish the 
scriptures and writings painted upon (lie church walls. 
Fox, vol. iii. p. 107. ed. 1641. 

T^DMUND, by God's permission bishop of London, 

5 to all and every parsons, vicars, clerks, and lettered 

within the parish of Hadham, or within the precincts 
of our diocese of London, wheresoever being, sendeth 
greeting, grace, and benediction. 

Because some children of iniquity, given up to carnal 

lo desires and novelties, have by many ways enterprized to 
banish the ancient manner and order of the church, and 
to bring in and establish sects and heresies, taking from 
thence the picture of Christ and many things besides, 
instituted and observed of ancient time laudably in the 

•5 same, placing in the room thereof such things, as in such 
a place it behoved them not to do ; and also have pro- 
cured as a stay to their heresies (as they thought) certain 
scriptures wrongly applied, to be painted upon the church 
walls: all which persons tend chiefly to this end, that 

20 they might uphold their liberty of the flesh, and mar- 
riage of priests, and destroy, as much as lay in them, 
the reverend sacrament of the altar; and might extin- 
guisli and enervate holy-days, fasting days, and other 
laudable discipline of the catholic church, opening a win- 

25 dow to all vices, and utterly closing up the way unto 
virtue : wherefore we being moved with a Christian 

K 4 



136 A mandate of Bonner^ bishop of London. [XXXIV. 

zeal, judging that the premises are not to be longer suf- 
fered, do, for discharge of our duty, commit unto you 
jointly and severally, and by the tenour hereof do straitly 
charge and command you, that at the receipt hereof, 
with all speed convenient you do warn, or cause to be s 
warned first, second, and third time, and peremptorily, all 
and singular churchwardens and parishioners whosoever, 
within our foresaid diocese of London, wheresoever any 
such scriptures or paintings have been attempted, that 
they abolish and extinguish such manner of scriptures, 
so that by no means they be either read or seen ; and 
therein to proceed moreover as they shall see good and 
laudable in this behalf. And if after the said monition 
the said churchwardens and parishioners shall be found 
remiss and negligent or culpable, then you jointly and 15 
severally shall see the foresaid scriptures to be razed, 
abolished, and extinguished forthwith; citing all and 
singular those churchwardens and parishioners (whom 
we also for the same do cite here by the tenour hereof) 
that all and singular the churchwardens and parishioners «<> 
being slack and negligent, or culpable therein, shall ap- 
pear before us, our vicar general, and principal official, 
or our commissary special in our cathedral church of 
St» Paul at London, in the consistory there, at the hour 
appointed for the same, the sixth day next after their *5 
citation, if it be a court day, or else at the next court 
day after ensuing, whereas either we or our official or 
conmiissary shall sit, there to say and allege for them- 
selves some reasonable cause, if they have any, or can 
tell of any, why they ought not to be excommunicated, 30 
and otherwise punished for such their negligence, slack- 
ness and fault ; to say and to allege, and ftirther to do 
and receive, as law and reason requireth. And what you 
have done in the premises, do you certify us, or our 
vicar, principal official, and such our commissary dili-^^ 
gently and duly in all things, and through all things ; or 



^554'] Bishop Bonner s declaration. 137 

let him among you thus certify us, which hath taken 
upon him to execute this mandate. In witness whereof 
we have set our seals to these presents. Dated in the 
bishop's palace at London the 25th day of the month 
5 of October, in the year of our Lord 1554, and of our 
translation the 16. 



XXXV. 

Papie Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Aiigliae 

JuLii 111.5. Tiio. Cranmer. 23. 1554* Marlc 3. 

The declaration of the bishop of London to be puhlished to 
the lay people of his diocese^ concerning their reconcilia^ 
lion. — Excusum Londini in sedibus Johan. Cawodi, 
typographi regiae majestatis. 

Tj^DMUND, by the permission of God byshop of Lon- 
don, unto all and singuler the laye people of my 
diocesse, do send greetinge in our Saviour Jesu Christe. 

10 Whereas this noble realme of England dividinge it self 
from the unitie of the catholyke church, and from the 
agrement in religion with all other christen realmes hath 
bene, besydes many other miseries and plages, which God's 
indignation hath powr'd upon it, grevously also vexed, 

15 and sore infected with many and sondry sorts of sectes 
of hereticks, as Arrians, Anabaptistes, Libertines, Zwin- 
glians, Lutheranes, and many other ; all whiche sectes be 
most repugnaunt, and contrary one agaynst another, and 
all agaynst God's truth and Christ's catholyke fayth: 

23 whereupon hath growen such sclaunder to the realme, 
such malyce and disagrement among ourselves, the inha- 
bitantes therof, such treasons, tumultes, and insurrections 
against our prince, such blasphemy, and dishonour unto 
God, as no mans tongue or penne is hable to expresse. 



138 Bishop Bonner's declaration to the laity [XXXV. 

It hath pleased the goodnes of God to cast his eye of 
mercye and clemencye upon us, and to move the popes 
holynes to send his most godly messenger, the most 
reverende father in God, the lorde cardynall Pole legate 
de latere, to brynge us the glade tydynges of peace and 5 
reconciliation, and to reduce and brynge home unto the 
folde, the loste shepe that was gone astraye ; whose mes- 
sage as it hath bene honourably receaved of the kinge 
and queues majesties, even so the lordes spiritual and 
temporal, and commons at the last parliament hath re- 10 
ceived it, revoking all lawes (the which in the tyme of 
scysme were promulgate agaynst the authority of the 
popes holynes) and restoryinge the same, and the church 
of Rome to all that power which they had in this realme, 
before the sayd scisme; the which reconciliation was also 15 
most gladly and joyfully imbraced, as well of all the 
clergy and convocation of the province of Canterburye, 
as also of many other persons : and being so great and 
necessary to be extended to every person of the realme, 
it hath pleas'd the sayd lord legates grace to geve, and ^o 
impart unto me the sayd bishop of London, for my sayd 
diocesse, and to all such as I shall appoint in that behalf, 
power and aucthority to absolve and reconcile all and 
every person thereof, aswel of the clergy, as .of the laytie, 
and aswel men as women, the which wyl renounce theyr 25 
errours, and (being penitent) wyl humbly requyre to be 
restored to the unitie of the catholyke church, as by the 
letters of the sayd lord legates grace sent imto me, and 
from me sent unto everyche of the archedeacons vrithin 
my diocesse, more at large may, and doth appear. And 30 
forasmuch as in mine owne person, aswell for the multi- 
tude of people, as distaunce of places, I cannot minister 
this benefit unto every prjrvate person my self; and for 
that also the holy tyme of lent is now at hand, in whiche 
everye true christen man ought to come unto his own as 
pastour and curate, to be of hym confessed, and to re- 



^554-] of his diocese concerni/ig their reconciliatian. 139 

ceave at his hand holsome councell, penaunce, and abso- 
lution; these are therefore aswel to geve knowledge 
hereof unto every one of you, as also to signifye, and 
declare, that for that purpose I have by the sayde auc- 

5 thoritie, chosen, named, and deputed, and so by these 
presentes do chose, name, and depute all and synguler 
pastours, and curates, having cure of soules within my 
diocesse, and beynge themselves reconciled herein, that 
they and every of them, by aucthoritie hereof, shal have 

10 full power and aucthoritie to absolve all such as be laye 
persons of theyr paryshes, from heresy and scysme, and 
from the censures of the church into the which they be 
fallen by occasion thereof; and also to reconcyle unto 
the churche all suche, whiche shall declare themselves 

'5 penytent, and desyrous to enjoy the benefyt of the sayd 
reconciliation. And whereas dyverse pastours and cu- 
rates in sondrye paryshes peradventure be not able to 
satisfye the myndes, and appeace the consciences of some 
of their paryshners in cases that shall trouble them ; I 

20 have therefore geven also authoritie to every archedeacon 
of my diocesse, within his archedeaconrye, to name and 
appoint certeyne of the best learned in everye deanrye of 
theyre archedeaconrye, to supply that lacke, so that every 
man so troubled, may repayre to any one of them within 

25 the said deanrye whom he shall lyke best, to be in- 
structed and appeaced in that behalf. And also I have 
appoynted, that if this beyng done, there shall yet re- 
mayne any scruple in the parties conscience, and hymself 
not satisfied, then the sayd partye to repajrre, unto one of 

30 myne archedeacons, or chapleyns, unto whom his mynde 
shall be moost inclyned unto, or elles to repayre unto 
myne own selfe, to be resolv'd- in his sayd scruple or 
doute, and to receave and take such ordre therein, as to 
one of the sayd archdeacons, or unto me shall therein 

35 appeare to be most expedient. Further certifyinge and 
declaring unto you, that I have gyven commaundement 



140 Bishop Banner's declaration. [XXXV. 

herein to all my archedeacons, that they mdiiyshe, and 
commaunde every pastour, and curate within their arche- 
deaconries, that they havinge knowledge hereof, do in the 
fyrst holy day next then foUowynge, at the masse tyme, 
when the multitude of people is present, declare all these 5 
thinges unto their parisheners, and exhort them that they 
esteme this grace accordingly, and reconcile themselves 
to the churche before the fyrst sonday after Easter next 
ensuyng, which thinge I also do commaunde by the 
tenour hereof, with intimation that the sayde tyme beynge 10 
once past, and they not so reconciled, every one of them 
shall have processe made agaynst him, accordyng to the 
canons as the case shal requyre ; for which purpose the 
pastours and curates of every paryshe shal be commaund- 
ed by their archedeacon to certifye me in wrytinge of »5 
every man and womans name that is not so reconcyled. 
Further, herewith I do signify and declare unto you, that 
our holy father the pope Julias, the third of that name, 
lyke a moost tender and naturall father, hearynge of the 
retoum and recovery of his prodigall child, this realme of 20 
England, hath hymselfe made much joy e and gladnes 
hereat, and also all other true christen realmes have done 
the lyke. Exhortynge you therefore in our Lord, not to 
be unthankfull yourselves, or negligent in this behalfe ; 
but diligently to soke for it, joyfully to embrace it, and 25 
fruyctfullye to use it; remembrynge withall the moni- 
cion and charge which came from me the laste yeare, 
concemyng your coming to confession in Lent, and re- 
ceaving of the sacrament at Easter, whiche monicion to 
all effectis and purposes, I have now here for repeated 30 
and renewed, charging you and also all your curates 
therwith. And because all our dueties is earnestly and 
devoutly to pray for the prosperous estate of our so- 
veraignes, the kyng and queue of this realme, I do finally 
requyre and pray you as hertely as I can, to pray for as 
theyr majesties accordingly, and specially that it may 



'554'] BP' B(mri£r8 monition to his curates. 141 

please almyghtye God to seude unto her grace a good 
tyme, and to make her a glad mother, which cannot be 
but unto us all great joye, much comforte, and inesti- 
mable profyte. Geven at London the 19th day of the 
5 moneth of February, in the yeare of our Lord God, after 
the computation of the church of Englande M.d.liv. 
and of my translation the 16. 

The fourme of absolution to be kepte by the pastores and 
curates iti pyvate confessions concerning this reconcili- 
lo ation. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you, and by the apo- 
stolyke aucthority to me graunted and committed, I ab- 
solve you from the sentences of excommunication, and 
from all other censures and paynes, into the whiche you 

'5 be fallen by reason of heresye, or scisme, or any other- 
wyse; and I restore you unto the unitie of our holy 
mother the church, and to the commimion of all the 
sacraments, dispensyng with you for all manner of irre- 
gidaritie. And by the same aucthoritie, I absolve you 

^o from all your synnes, in the name of the Father, and of 
the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

God save the kynge and the queue. 



XXXVL 

Papae Rom. Archiepinc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angli» 

JuLii 111. 6. Tho. Crakmer. a.v '554* Maria 3. 

A monition of Bonner^ bishop of London^ sent down to all 
and singular curates of his diocese^ for the certifying of 
the names of such as would not come in Lent to confes- 
sion, and receiving at Easter. Fox, vol. III. p. 37. 

"C^DMUND, by the permission of God bishop of Lon- 
don, to all parsons, vicars^ curates, and ministers of 



142 Bp. Bonner's monition to hia curates. [XXXVI. 

the church within the city and diocese of London sendeth 
grace, peace and mercy in our Lord everlasting. Foras- 
much as by the order of the ecclesiastical laws and con- 
stitutions of this realm, and the laudable usage and cus- 
tom of the whole catholic church by many hundred years 5 
agone duly and devoutly observed and kept, all faithful 
people being of lawfiil age and discretion, are bound once 
in the year at least (except reasonable causes excuse 
them) to be confessed to their own proper curate, and to 
receive the sacrament of the altar with due preparation 10 
xand devotion ; and forasmuch also as we be credibly in- 
formed, that sundry evil disposed and undevout persons, 
given to sensual pleasures and carnal appetites, following 
the lust of their body, and neglecting utterly the health 
of their souls, do forbear to come to confession according ^5 
to the said usage, and to receive the sacrament of the 
altar accordingly ; giving thereby pernicious and evil ex- 
ample to the younger sort to neglect and contemn the 
same : we minding the reformation hereof for our own 
discharge, and desirous of good order to be kept, and 20 
good example to be given, do will and command you by 
virtue thereof, that immediately upon the receipt of this 
our commandment, ye and every of you within your 
cure and charge, do use all your diligence and dexterity 
to declare the same, straitly charging and commanding 15 
all your parishioners, being of lawftil age and discretion, 
to come before Easter next coming to confession, accord- 
ing to the said ordinance and usage, with due preparation 
and devotion to receive the said sacrament of the altar ; 
and that ye do note the names of all such as be not con- 30 
fessed unto you, and do not receive of you the said sacra- 
ment : certifying us or our chancellor or commissary 
thereof before the 6th day of April next ensuing the 
date hereof; that so we knowing thereby, who did not 
come to confession and receive the sacrament accordingly, 35 
may proceed against them, as being persons culpable, 



^554'] Cofistitutmies legatinw Reginaldi Poli. 143 

and transgressors of the said ecclesiastical law and usage. 
Further also certifying us, our said chancellor, or commis- 
sary before the day aforesaid, whether you have your 
altars set up, chalices, books, vestments, and all things 

5 necessary for mass and the administration of sacraments 
and sacramentals ; with procession, and all other divine 
service prepared and in readiness, according to the order 
of the catholic church, and the virtuous and godly ex- 
ample of the queen's majesty : and if ye so have not, ye 

lo then with the churchwardens cause the same to be pro- 
vided for, signifying by whose fault and negligence the 
same want or fault hath proceeded, and generally of the 
not coming of your parishioners to church, undue walking, 
talking, or using of themselves there unreverently in the 

'5 time of divine service, and of all other open faults and 
misdemeanours ; not omitting thus to do, and certify as 
before, as you will answer upon your peril for the con- 
trary. Given at London the 23d of February, in the 
year of our Lord mdliv. 



20 



XXXVII. 

Paps Rom. Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi R^. Angliae 

JuLii Til. 6. Tho. Cranmer. 23. i555* MxRiifi 2. 

Constitutiones legatince Reginaldi Poli cardinalis, legati 
a latere^ archtepiscopi Cantuariensis, Ex MS. Cott. 
Cleop. F. 2. fol. 72. Collat. cum MS. Synodal, in 
CoUeg. Corp. Christi Cantabrig. 

Decretum primum. 

/^UONIAM hoc regnum, quod a corpore catholicae 
^* ecclesiae separatum erat, jam Dei misericordia ad 

Constitutiones legatince] " Cardinal Pole obtained of the queen on 
the 2d of November a warrant under the great seal, giving him license 
to hold a sjmod. The license he had formerly taken out is made men- 



144 ConstUutiones leffatince Beffinaldi Pali. [XXXVII. 

ejus unitatem rediit ; ne immemores tanti beneficii vide- 
remur, placuit, ut in quibuscunque missarum (praeter- 
quam de festo duplici majori) celebrationibus post alias 
ejus diei collectas, et infrascripta dicantur. Item, ut 
quotannis in quibuscunque hujus regni locis, in die sancti 5 
Andreas apostoli, quo die hsec reconciliatio facta est, pro- 
cessio solennis celebretur, qua tam insignis beneficii per 
universes fideles memoria renovetur ; et inter missarum 
solennia in ecclesia, unde processio ducetur, concio ad 
populum habeatur, in qua processionis praedictae causa »o 
exponatur; et ubi id fieri non possit, is, qui celebravit, 
erudiat plebem per homiliam super hoc specialiter eden- 
dam. 

Decretum secundum. 

Quia vero cum obedientia sedis Romanae etiam cano- 
nicarum legum usus in hoc regno sublatus fuit, ex eaque 15 
re maxima fidei, et morum corruptio subsecuta est; 
idcirco statutum est, ut universa sacrorum tam genera- 
lium, quam provincialium conciliorum ab ea sede recep- 
torum decreta, et Romanorum pontificum constitutiones, 
necnon et ecclesiae leges, olim in hoc regno canonice 20 



tion of ; and to avoid all ambiguities, which might arise from the laws 
or prerogatives of the crown, she authorized him to call that or any 
other synod after, and to decree what canons he should think fit : she 
also authorized the clergy to meet, consent to, and obey those canons 
without any danger of the law. This was thought safe on both sides ; 25 
both for the preserving the rights of the crown, and securing the 
clergy from being brought within the statute of praemunire, as they 
had been upon their acknowledging cardinal Wolsey's legatine power 
To this convocation Pole proposed a book he had prepared, which was 
afterwards printed with the title of The Reformation of England by the 30 
decree of cardinal Pole .... These decrees were all finished, agreed to, 
and published by him in February next year . . . and by all them it may 
appear how well- tempered this cardinal was." Burnet, H. R. vol. ii. 
pp. 651. 654. 655. See also Strype, Cranm. vol. i. p. 528. Ck>llier, 
vol. ii. p. 388. Lingard, vol. v. p. 97. 35 



^555'^ ConstiMiones Isgatince ReginaMi Poli. 145 

editse, in pristinum statum restituantur, et ab universis 
ejusdem regni fidelibus respective, et prout ad eos per- 
tinet, observentur, et transgressores earum puniantur. 
Item, ut in scholis publicis (sicut antea fiebat) jus 

5 canonicum doceatur. Item, ut non solum archiepiscopi, 
episcopi, decani, et archidiaconi, verum etiam officiates, 
et reliqui omnes, ecclesiasticam jurisdictionem habentes, 
volumen praesentium decretorum, et eorum, quae bonae 
memoriflB Otho et Otbobonus, olim sedis apostolicae in 

johoc regno legati, in similibus synodis, et archiepiscopi 
Cantuarienses in conciliis provincialibus pro tempore edi- 
derunt, habeant. Caeteri vero sacerdotes, quibus animsr 
rum cura commissa est, praeter sacrorum bibliorum vete- 
ris editionis librum Latine scriptum, et alios libros ad 

15 curam animarum exercendam necessaries, easdem etiam 
constitutiones habere, et si quid dubii in eis occurrerit, 
peritiores consulere, et ex his ea, quae populum nosse 
oportet, declarare teneantur ; qui vero hoc non observa- 
verit, ordinariorum arbitrio puniatur. Et ne posthae ex 

lolibrorum damnatorum lectione populus comimpatur, 
damnantur, et anathematizantur omnes, qui sine speciali 
apostolicae sedis licentia habent, legunt, imprimunt, dis- 
seminant, aut in hoc regnum important libros haereti- 
corum, seu alitor de fide suspectos ; et, ut omnibus poenis 

25 contra eos latis puniantur, prsecipitur ; placuitque juxta 
ultimi Lateranen. concilii statutum, ne quis in hoc regno 
librum aliquem seu aliud quodvis scriptum imprimere 
audeat, nisi id prius per loci ordinarium, aut per alium 
ejus mandate, diligenti examinatione et subscriptione 

30 approbatum fuerit ; qui vero contrarium fecerit, pcenis in 
eo statute contentis subjaceat. Item, ut universi libri et 
traditi(5nes ad fidem et ecclesiasticam disciplinam spec- 
tantes, quas sancta Romana ecclesia probsvit et recepit, 
seu inposterum probabit et recipiet, quasque cum omni 
35 reverentia praesens synodus recipit et amplectitur, ab 

VOL. I. L 



146 CoiMtituitianes legatinoB Reginaldi Pali, [XXX VII. 

omnibus hujus regni fidelibus pari reverentia sub cen- 
suris canonicis suscipiantur. 

Et ut populus sciat, quam doctrinam sequi et fugere 
debeat, placuit recipere omnem earn fidem, quam tenet 
ac docet sancta Romana et apostolica ecclesia, omnium 5 
ecclesiarum mater et magistra, et ut omnes eam profi- 
teantur et teneant ; contraque omnia haeresis adversus 
banc sanctam, orthodoxam, et catbolicam fidem, et quic- 
quid ab ea recedit et deviat, damnatur et rejicitur; et 
omne dogma quod cum ea fide non convenit, hie creden- »<> 
dum aut docendum sub anathemate vetatur; et omnes 
haeretici, qui aliter tenent et decent, quam eadem Ro- 
mana credit ac tenet ecclesia, damnantur et anathemati- 
zantur ; et omnes censuras et poenas contra haereticos et 
eorum defensores, necnon contra ordinaries et caeteros >5 
omnes, ad quos spectat, in extirpandis haeresibus negli- 
gentes, a jure vel ab homine latas, ^ecutioni demandari 
praecipitur. Et quia contra capitis ecclesiae et sacra- 
mentorum doctrinam potissimum hie erratum est, placuit 
doctrinam de primatu ecclesiae Romanae, et de septem ^o 
sacramentis, quae in concilio generali Florentiae sub Eu- 
genie quarto explicata est, huic decreto subjicere. Item, 
constitutio bonte memoriae Johannis, archiepiscopi Can-^ 
tuariensis in concilio provinciali edit|i renovatur; qua 
statutum est, ut in qualibet ecclesia parochial! fiat taber- 45 
naculum decens et honestum cum sera et clavi, quod in 
altum elevatum in medio summi altaris affigatur, si com- 
mode fieri potest, alias in commodiori et honorabiliori et 
magis summo altari vicino loco, qui haberi posset; in 
quo tabemaculo sanctissimum eucharistiae sacramentum 30 
custodiatur, non in bursa vel in loculo, sed in pixide 
lineo panno mundissimo interius omata, ut sine diminu- 
tionis periculo facile reponi et eximi possit, atque ut 
ipsum venerabile sacramentum singulis hebdomadis in- 
novetur. Ut autem hoc facilius execution! mandetur, 35 



^555'] ConstitutioTies legatinw Beginaldi PoU. 147 

statutum est, ut ordinarii in suis ecclesiis hujus observa- 
tionis initium faciant, et, ut in aliis idem fiat, provideaiit ; 
negligentibus per tantam fructuum subtractionem, quanta 
huic operi sufficiat, et alia juris remedia ad hoc observan- 
5 dum compulsis. Huic constitutioni in honorem corporis 
Domini nostri Jesu Christi, et plebis sedificationem placuit 
addere, ut perpetuo lampas vel cereus coram sanctissimo 
hoc Sacramento ardeat ; ubi vero per paupertatem eccle- 
siae id commode fieri non potest, locorum ordinarii cura- 

lo bunt, ut alia via, quantum in eis fuerit, hie cultus anti- 
quus restituatur. 

Item, constitutiones omnes ecclesiasticae tam gene- 
rales, quam hujus regni particulares circa custodiam 
fontis baptismalis, chrismatis, et olei sancti, et reveren- 

15 tem administrationem ipsorum sacramentorum, sub poenis 
in eis contentis^ et aliis etiara, si ordinariis placuerit, gra- 
vioribus innovantui^ atque ut observentur, mandatum est. 
Item statutum est, ut in ecclesiarum dedicationibus, quae 
prime die dominico mensis Octobris ubique in hoc regno 

aocelebrari mandantur, caeterisque diebus festis, populus 
spectaculis, commessationibus, tripudiis, similibusve vani- 
tatibus non attendat, sed divinis officiis vacet. Hoc 
an tem ut fiat, episcopi ipsi, poenis censurisve adhibitis, 
ac seculari brachio, si opus fuerit, invocato, diligenter 

25 curabunt. 

De residentia, Decretum tertium, 

Quoniam ecclesiae reformatio ab hiis, qui aliis pra&sunt, 
est inchoanda, et cum potissimum ipsa deformetur, quod 
ei non resideant, (a quo abusu reliqua mala provenere,) 

30 archiepiscopi et episcopi et caeteri curam animarum ha- 
Jbentes, attendentes sibi et universe gregi, in quo Spiritus 
Sanctus posuit eos regere ecclesiam Dei, quorum sanguis 
de manibus eorum a supremo judice est requirendus, et 
praesentiam suam et operas suas debitas illi exhibebunt, 

35 et omni negotiorum secularium solicitudine vacui super 

l2 



148 Canstitutimes legaiinw Beginaldi PoU. [XXXVII. 

gregem suum vigilabunt, et in omnibus, secundum apo- 
stolum, laborantes ministerium suum implebunt : pro 
cujus decreti observatione omnes leges ecclesiasticae tam 
generales, quam hujus regni particulares contra non resi- 
dentes editae, innovantur, easque inviolabiliter observari 5 
mandatur. Et ut contumaces etiam per ipsorum bene- 
ficiorum privationem ad residendum compellantur, prae- 
cipitur; poterit tamen ordinarius juxta canonem fe. re. 
Gregorii decimi papae, et in concilio generali Lugdunen. 
editum, dispensare ad tempus super personali residentia, 10 
si causa rationabilis et juri consona id exposcet. 

Item, cum constet dignitates et alia ecclesiastica officia 
in Dei ecclesiis ob id fuisse instituta, ut essent, qui eccle- 
siae Dei servirent, et ecclesiasticam disciplinam tanquam 
inspectores et moderatores conservarent ; jam vero multa 15 
ab bis occupantur, qui dignitatum et officiorum titulos 
quidem gerant, ab ecclesiis autem suis cum magno earum 
detrimento absint ; ideo statutum est, ut posthac omnes 
decani, praepositi, et reliqui dignitates, et officia tam in 
cathedralibus, quam coUegiatis ecclesiis obtinentes, nee- 20 
non et scholarium coUegiorum praefecti in suis ecclesiis 
et collegiis, archidiaconi vero vel in archidiaconatibus vel 
in cathedralibus ecclesiis episcoporum arbitrio resideant, 
et operam ex officio suo illis debitam per se ipsi prae- 
stent. Si quis vero ultra vacationem, sibi ex statutis as 
ecclesiae concessam, ab ecclesia, archidiaconatu, vel col- 
legio suo abftierit, arctioribus ecclesiarum et collegiorum 
statutis et consuetudinibus in suo robore permanentibus, 
placuit, ut fructus pro rata temporis absentia amittat, 
iique in usum mensae ecclesiae cathedralis, quae ad alen- 30 
dos scholares erecta jam fuerit, vel erigetur, convertantur. 
Et si longioris absentise ratio ista postulaverit, aliis etiam 
juris remediis, usque ad dignitatis ipsius et ecclesiae pri- 
vationem inclusive ad residend. compellatur; poterunt 
tamen, qui hujusmodi ministeria obtinent, ex rationabili 35 
et justa causa, per majorem partem capituli vel coUegii 



^555-] Canstitutiones legatince Beginaldi PoU. 149 

probata, de licentia ordinariorum ad certum tempus 
abesse. Et cum canonicatus et praebendae in ecclesia 
idee sint instituti, ut personae, quae ad eos assumuntur, 
episcopo assistant, et ut per eos cultus divinus congrue 

5 peragatur ; placuit, ut postbac omnes canonici quarum- 
cunque ecclesiarum, qui ad personalem residentiam ex 
fundatione, statute, vel consuetudine tenentur ad resi- 
dend. per subtractionem fructuum ex canonicatibus et 
praebendis provenientium, eis pro rata temporis, quo 

lo ultra vacationem sibi ex statu t is ecclesiae concessam, sine 
licentia superioris ex justa causa concessa, et a majori 
parte capituli approbata, abfuerint, compellantur ; hi 
autem fructus in praedictae scholarium mensae usum con- 
vertendi sunt. Si qui vero sint, qui ex ftindatione, sta- 

'5 tuto, vel consuetudine ad residentiam asserunt se non 
teneri, statutum est, ut ubi praebendae reditus ad decern 
libras quotannis ascendunt, uno saltem, vel, si ad viginti 
libras perveniunt, duobus mensibus continuis vel inter- 
polatis ampliusve ad arbitrium ordinarii quolibet anno in 

2o ecclesia, ad quam praebenda spectat, praesentes sint, et in 
habitu per canonicos, qui ibi resident, gestari solito, di- 
vinis officiis intersint. Qui secus fecerit, sexta parte 
proventus annul illius praebendae multetur, eaque in 
usum praedictae mensae convertatur, nisi bujusmodi fruc- 

25 tus his, qui divinis intersint, sen aliis piis usibus per 
statuta ecclesiae, sen alias legitime sint jam applicati; 
quod et in praecedentibus capitibus, ubi de hoc agitur, 
placuit observari. Et insuper est adjectum, ut distribu- 
tiones quotidianae appellatae, quae ab hiis, qui divinis in* 

30 tersunt, tantummodo percipiuntur, ex quantumvis justa 
causa, nisi ea talis sit, quae expresse in hoc a jure vel 
statutis ecclesiae probetur, nemini qui eisdem divinis non 
intersit, concedantur. 

Item, ad doles et fraudes toUendas mandatur onmibus 

35 locorum ordinariis, ut posthac alicui ecclesiasticae per- 
sonae studiorum causa indultum, ut non promoveatur ad 

L 3 



150 Oongtitutianes legatince BeginaJdi Poli. [XXXVII. 

ordines, ad quos alias ratione beneficiorum promo veri 
teneretur, et a sua ecclesia absens fructus eonindem be- 
neficiorum percipiat, minime concedant, nisi prius exami- 
naverint personam, an ad eas disciplinas, quibus vult in- 
tendere, sit apta, et an eae disciplinae ecclesiae utiles sint, 5 
Et si, omnibus mature perspectis, licentiam concedant, 
turn de hujusmodi personam vita et studiis soliciti sint ; 
et si eam non honeste vivere, vel in Uteris non proficere 
compererint, indultum sibi concessum revocent. 

Cum autem pluralitas beneficiorum maxime residen- lo 
tiam in eisdem impediat, statutum est, ut quicunque, 
cujuscunque ordinis aut dignitatis existat, plura beneficia 
ecclesiastica de facto jam obtinet, unicum retineat, et vel 
aliud sen alia, quae de jure tenere non potest, intra duo- 
rum mensium spatium a praesentium publicatione com- '5 
putandorum, in manibus ordinarii sui resignet et dimittat ; 
alioquin omnibus ipso &cto sit privatus. Qui vero in- 
posterum plura beneficia curam animarum habentia, seu 
alias incompatibilia, absque sedis apostolicae dispensatione 
per quamcunque viam praeter ilium modum, quem con- 20 
stitutio Gregoriana edita in concilio Lugdunen. permittit, 
obtinuerit, omnibus etiam, quae jure possidebat, sit ipso 
facto privatus. Innovantur etiam omnes pcenae in con- 
stitutione felicis recordationis Johannis xxii. quae incipit 
" Audistis/' contentae, et quaecunque aliae de jure contra 15 
non residentes editae, et ut eae debitae execution! man- 
dentur, prcecipitur. 

Item, ut ordinarii locorum quoscunque plura beneficia 
incompatibilia obtinentes, dispensationes suas exhibere 
districte compellant, et alias procedant juxta constitu-30 
tionera Gregorii X. in concilio Lugdunen. editam, quae 
incipit *• Ordinarii." lidem etiam per idoneorum vica- 
riorum deputationem et congruae portionis fructuum as- 
signatlonem providebunt, ut animarum cura in eisdem 
ecclesiis nullatenus negligatur, et earundem onera con- 35 
grue supportentur consueta. 



^5550 Consiittiiianes legatincB Beginaldi PoU. 161 

De prcedicatioTie vei'bi Dei. Decretum quartum, 

Quoniam episcopomm et curatoruin omnium residentia 
in ecclesiis suis ad hoc exigitur, ut pastoram fungantur 
officio ; statutum est, ut arcliiepiscopi, episcopi, et ca&teri 

5 curam animarum babentes, per seipsos praedicandi verbi 
Dei munus juxta Cbristi et apostolorum mandatum et 
sacrorum canonum norraas exerceant. Quod si aliquando 
legitime fuerint impediti, viros idoneos ad id deligant, ut 
plebs cibo animarum suarum minime defraudetur. Qui 

lo vero boc facere neglexerint, ad ea per superiores suos 
compellantur; boc autem officium non modo publice, 
sed privatim etiam peragant docendo, admonendo, adbor- 
tan do, deterrendo, consolando, prout opus esse cognove- 
rint. Nullus autem praedicandi munus exercere praesu- 

15 mat, nisi vel ab apostolica sede, vel ab ordinario licentiam 
babeat; qui vero secus fecerit, poenis et censuris cano- 
nicis subjaceat. Item, episcopi admonebunt, quos ad 
praedicandum mittent, de materia et forma, quam in prae- 
dicando servare debeant; ut caveant abusus qui in hoc 

20 sacrum mysterium verbi divini irrepserunt, ut instituto 
populo ad poenitentiam, a qua salutis nostrae initium 
sumendum est, contra ea vitia et abusus, qui tum in doc- 
trina, tum in moribus tempore schismatis hie maxime 
viguerunt, juxta mandatum Domini ad Esaiam prophe- 

25 tam " Clament nee cessent annunciare populo Dei soe- 
lera eorum:" ubi defuerint concionandi periti rectores 
aut vicarii, homilias, ex hujus* synodi mandato con- 

* homilias ex hujus'] ..." homilies which were intended to be 
published : and among archbishop Parker's papers I find the scheme 
30 he [the cardinal] had of them was thus laid. He designed four books 
of homilies : the first, of the controverted points, for preserving the 
people from error : the second, for the exposition of the Creed and 
Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the salutation of the Virgin, 
and the sacraments : the third was to be for the Saints' days, and the 

l4 



152 ConstitiUumes legaiinw Beginaldi Polu [XXXVII. 

scriptas, dominicis et aliis festis diebus legere tene- 
buntur. 

Episcopi etiam provideant, ut curati pueros parochiae 
suae dominicis saltern diebus et aliis festis certa bora ad 
ecclesiam vocent, ibique eosdem in primis fidei nidi- 5 
mentis et pietate Christiana diligenter instituant ; negli- 
gentes in hoc suo arbitrio puniendo. 

De vita et honestate clericorum, Decretum quintum. 

Exemplum vitae genus est quoddam praedicandi non 
minus eflScax, quam per verbum Dei, ideo omnes episcopi 10 
et alii ecclesiarum prselati monentur, eisque praecipitur, 
ut sobrie, caste, et pie vivant, nee solum a malo sed etiam 
ab omni specie mali abstineant, ut eorum personae, domus, 
familia, mensa, supellex, modestiae et frugalitatis specu- 
lum dici mereantur. Quamobrem usus vestium sen- 15 
canim et pretiosamm prohibetur. In mensa qualescunque 
convivaB sint, non plusquam tria aut ad summum quatuor 
(quod magis inspecta praesentis temporis qualitate indul- 
gendo, quam probando conceditur) cibomm genera praeter 
fructus et bellaria apponantur. Reliqua meusae condi-20 
menta sint lectio sacrorum librorum et pii sermones. A 
familiarium et equorum numerosa et superflua multitu- 
dine abstineant ; curentque ut domesticorum suorum vita 
honesta et probata sit, utque modesto ac decenti vestitu 
onmes utantur. De fructibus autem ecclesiasticis quic- «5 
quid, deductis necessariis expensis, supererit, in pauperes 
Christi et alia pia opera distribuant ; et demum ita se in 
omnibus gerant, ut forma gregis ex animo facti merito 
videantur. 

Haec, quae de vita et moribus episcoporum dicta sunt, 30 

Sundays and holy • days of the year, for explaining the epistles and 
gospels : and the fourth was concerning virtues and vices, and the 
rites and ceremonies of the Church." Burnet, H. R. voL ii. p. 654. 
vol. iii. p. 494. 



^555'] OoMiiMwMB legaUnm BsffinakH PoU. 1 68 

Btotutum est^ ut in reliqnis edain inferioris drdims clerids 
observentur ; quod ut fiEU»liu8 executioni mandetur, oura* 
bunt ordinariiy ut omnes leges ecclesiastics de vita et hor 
nestate clericorum editse obsenrentur. £t ne quis igno* 
5 rantiam hac in re praetendere possit^ omnia, quae ad id 
magis pertinere iddebuntur, in breye compendium redacta, 
ut ad onmium notitiam deducantur, operam dabunt. 
Quamvis religiosis professb et dericis in sacris ordinibus 
constitutis, uxores habere non liceat» tamen quia multi 

lo post emissam professionem yel sacrorum ordinum suscep- 
tionem matrimonia (quae potius impudica contubernia 
sunt appellanda) de facto contrahere non sunt veriti, 
onmia hujusmodi matrimonia de £EU^to contracta repro- 
bantur; prflecipiturque omnibus ordinariis, ut hujusmodi 

15 personas sic de facto ooiyunctas per censuras ecdesiasticas 
8eparent» et contra eos, qui quocunque modo non pa- 
nierint, juxta sacrorum canonum reguhis seyere pro- 
cedant. 

Item placuit, ut quseyis ecclesiastica persona, quae 

loaliquod beneficium quantumyis simplex obtinet^ yel in 
sacro ordine est constituta, habitum et tonsumm cleri- 
cales juxta canonicas sanctiones deferat, et ab omnibus 
negotiis secularibus et yilibus exercitiis onmino iftMStinfiat^ 
et horas canonicas persolyat, et alia, quae ordini suo con* 

^5 yeniunt, obseryet ; inobedientes ordinarius per quodcun* 
que juris remedium etiam usque ad beneficiorum priya* 
tionem inclusiye compellat^ minomm autem ordinum 
clerici ab illicitis abstineant exercitiis^ alioquin priyi-* 
legiis clericalibus eo ipso priyati aunt. 

30 De coUatione ordinum. Decretum SMtum. 

Quoniam episcopis nihil magis commendat apostolus 

{)ost prsedicationem Verbi, quam manuum impositionem, 

ob eamque neglectam maximi abusus. et innumera fere 

scandala in ecclesiam irrepserunt ; omnibus locorum ordi- 

35 nariis mandatur, ut omni studio et eharitate, statutis a 



154 CmaiMumes Ugatincs BeginaMi Pdi. [XXXVII. 

jure temporibus, dioecesanus suos, quos idoneos judica-> 
verint, ordinibus per seipsos, nisi legitime impediti fue- 
rint, initient. 

Item placuit, ut ordinarii, quibuB dictum est, ^* Nemini 
cito manum imposueris," ipsimet examinationi ordinan- 5 
dorum cum omni cura et solicitudine intendant, nee ad 
alios rejiciant; si vero propter multitudinem ordinan- 
dorum aliorum auxilio indigeant, tum eorum opera utan-^ 
tur, quorum probitatem et diligentiam perspectam ha^ 
beant ; nee tamen archidiaconi aliive, ad quos hujusmodi lo 
munus spectat, excusantur, quominus et ipsi episcopo 
assistere debeant. 

In examinatione ordinandorum, imprimis fides catho- 
lica» tum aetas, mores, vita, eruditio, et affectus spec- 
tentur, an sint de legitime matrimonio nati, an in eis ali- 15 
quis sit defectuSy quo ab ordinibus de jure repellantur, • 
atque inter caetera advertatur, ne fictis aut omentitis 
titulis promoveantur. 

Et ut haec recte fiant, ordinandi ad sacros ordines 
mensibus aliquot ante tempus ordinationis episcopo vo- so 
luntatem suam significabimt, ut de illorum statu com- 
mode cognoscere possit ; deinde feria quinta prsecedente 
diem ordinationis eidem episcopo se prsesentabunt, et 
omnium prsedictorum fiat diligens et plena examinatio; 
adferant autem omnes de his, quae superius dicta sunt, 25 
certa et fide digna testimonia non mode suorum parocho- 
rum, sed etiam praeceptorum, aliorumve proborum ho- 
minum, qui eos bene noverint. 

Item placuit, ut nemo ad sacros ordines admittatur, 
nisi paulo ante confessus fuerit idoneo sacerdoti, qui 30 
ejus vitae conditionem sedulo scrutatus intelligat, an forte 
aliqua irregularitate aiit aliquo alio impedimento teneatur, 
ut expediat eum ab ordinibus vel omnino, vel quoad 
hujusmodi impedimentum toUatur, abstinere. In mino- 
ribus etiam ordinibus ea cura et examinatio adhibeatur, 35 
quae cuique ordini suscipiendo necessaria videbitur. 



^555*1 ConstUutiones legatincB Begimldi PoK. 155 

De provisione beneficiorum ecclesiasticorum. Decretum 

septimum. 

Cum beneficium non detur nisi propter officium ; ideo 
episcopi omnes admonentur, ut omni humano affectu 

5 semoto ecclesiastica munera, praesertim ea, quibus ani- 
marum cura est annexa, non conferant nisi magis probatis 
atque idoneis, quaerentes non quae sua sunt, sed quae 
Jesu Christi. 

Quoniam vero quod Paulus dixit, "Nemini eitomanum 

'o imposueris," potissimura ministrorum ecclesiasticorum 
institutionem respicit, episcopi beneficia maxime curam 
animarum habentia, nisi habita prius diligenti personarum 
inquisitione, nemini conferant. 

In his autem, quae praeficiuntur, liaec spectari debent ; 

15 sana doctrina, aetatis maturitas, morum gravitas, lite- 
rarum scientia, saltern ea quae ad id munus, ad quod as- 
sumuntur, est necessaria, ut juxta Pauli doctrinam testi- 
monium bonum habeant, utque nullum canonicum impe- 
dimentum eis obsistat. 

10 Et cum aliquis ad beneficium, quod personalem resi- 
dentiam requirit, assumendus est, episcopus provideat an 
talis sit, qui et velit et possit in beneficio residere ; nam 
si non possit, repellendus est ; sin possit, tum etiam ante- 
quam admittatur, promissionem etiam juratam de perso- 

25 naliter residendo et officium exequendo, sub poena amis- 
sionis beneficii, ab eo recipiat : banc autem promissionem 
in vicariorum provisionibus praestari debere juxta provin- 
ciales constitutiones declaratum est. Ad episcopos etiam 
pertineat a praefectis academiarum et collegiorum scripts 

30 habere nomina eorum, qui et moribus et doctrina ad 
beneficia obtinenda sint idonei. 

Item quoniam multa mala ex diutina ecclesiarum va- 
catione oriuntur, admonentur omnes episcopi, ut, quam 
citissime possint, ecclesiis vacantibus de idoneis rector!- 

35 bus provideant. Durante autem earum vacatione, procu- 



156 ConetUutiones legaiifue Begifuddi Fdi. [XXXVII. 

rent, ut recte gubementur. Quae vero de episcopis dicta 
sunt, haec ad omnes inferiores quacunque ratione confe- 
rendi, eligendi, aut praesentandi facultatem habentes ex- 
tendentur. 

De concessione prabendoi et ecclesice non vacant. Decretum s 

octavum. 

Cum in fraudem statuti concilii Lateranensis, de non 
faciendis dispositionibus nee provisionibus beneficiorum 
non vacantium, multi ad benefieia vacatura prsesentandi, 
8eu de illis disponendi potestatem in alios transferant, lo 
ex quo in hoc regno multa mala provenisse compertum 
est; ideo hujusmodi translationes perpetuo fieri prohi- 
bentur, et irritae inanesque declarantur ; personae autem 
ecclesiasticae, quae in hoc deliquerint, pro ea et altera 
vice sint eo jure privatae, et ad superiorem fitcultas dispo- is 
nendi devolvatur. Qui vero contra hoc decretum bene- 
ficium receperit, is non solum illud ipso jure amittat^ sed 
ad alia quaeque obtinenda inhabilis per quinquennmm 
omnino sit. 

De simonia. Decretum nonum. ^o 

Cum detestabile simonise scelus universa jura tam hu- 
mana, quam divina vehementer execrentur; ideo omnis 
pecuniae datio, fructuum donatio, praediorum ad firmam 
seu aflSctum concessio, seu oujuslibet temporalis oom- 
modi interpositio, et omne pactum seu promissio in quo- 15 
rumlibet beneficiorum adeptione vel circa eam inter- 
veniens damnatur ; siquidem beneficia ecclesiastica gratis, 
libere, et absque uUa sorde vel conditione concedi et 
recipi oporteat ; atque in beneficiis ad hunc modum 
adeptis, placuit non modo jus nullum acquiri, sed et 30 
fructus, qui percepti fuerint restitui debere: et qui in 
hoc deliquerit, ad omnia beneficia ecclesiastica obtinenda 
perpetuo inhabilem esse ; et si quis ecclesiastici ordinis 



'555*1 CantHiuiionei UgatincB BeginaUU PoU. 157 

in beneficiorum dispositionem deliquerit diquo ex prae- 
dictis modis, eo ipso infamem esse, et omni disponendi 
facultate de eisdem beneficiis ad superiores devolvenda 
privari. Laicus vero patronus excommunicationis sen- 

5 tentise et aliis ecclesiasticis poenis subjaceat ; mediatoies 
autem turn ad omnes actus canonicos inhabiles sint, turn 
ad restituend. quicquid inde acceperint, alicui pro loco 
postea applicand. compellantur. Mandatur insuper ordi- 
nariis, ut ab eo qui praesentatus sibi fnerit, juramentiim 

lo infra adnotatum recipiant, et omnes constitntiones contra 
simoniacos editee innoventur. Forma autem dicti jurar 
menti talis est : Ego N. praesentatus ad beneficium de N. 
jure ad haec sacrosancta Dei evangelia» per me corpo- 
raliter tacta, quod propter dictiun beneficium obtinend. 

15 aut prsesentationem ad idem habend. ac acquirend. neque 
ego, neque alia persona vice et nomine meo, nee de con^ 
sensu aut scientia mea, patrono sen alicui cuicunque 
aliquid promissorum nomine aut intuitu promisimus aut 
dedimus; nee quicquam ejus rei gratia permutavimus, 

10 compensavimus, aut prime datum confirmavimus, apudre 
quemquam deposuimus, sen quicquam mutavimus, sen 
elocavimus ; priusve mutuatum, conmiodatum, depositnm, 
aut elocatum, aut quocunque mode debitum remisimus 
sen relaxavimus; nee de sanctuario, gleba, domibos, 

n terns, praediis, tenementis, reditibus prsdictae eccleeiadp 
fructibusve, decimis, aut oblationibus ejusdem preteritis, 
praesentibus, aut futuris, donationem, remissionem, loca- 
tionemve promisimus, fecimus aut inivimus ; sen aliquis 
nostrum de mandate, scientia, aut consensu meo pro- 

aomisit, fecit, aut iniyit. Ita me Deus a^juvet, et haec 
sancta Dei evangelia. 

Ut res ecclesitB nan alienentur» et benefida eedesiastica non 

loceniur. Decreium decimum. 

Ut indemnitatibuB eccledarum prospiciatur, statutum 
35 est felicis recordationis Paul! papse II. constitutionem de 



158 CongtitfUiones UgatintB BeginaJdi Pell [XXXVII. 

rebus ecclesiae non alienandis, quae incipit " Ambitiose," 
una cum reliquis ecclesiasticis super eadem re provisio- 
nibus editis observandam esse. Item mandatur archi- 
episcopis et inferioribus prselatis, et piorum locorum gu- 
bematoribus, ut infra sex mensium spatium a prassentium 5 
publicatione inventarium onmium bonorum mobilium et 
immobilium, jurium et actionum, ac debitorum ad eccle- 
sias et pia loca quomodolibet spectant. coram pluribus 
fide dignis personis in forma probante conficiant ; quod 
inventarium tertio quoque anno et quotiens rector muta- «o 
tur, renovetur ; cujus duo fiant publica instrumenta, quo- 
rum unum in propria ecclesia sen pio loco, alterum vel 
apud metropolitanam, si ad cathedralem, vel apud capitu- 
lum, si ad metropolitanam, vel apud episcopum, si ad 
inferiorem spectet ecclesiam, perpetuo conservetur. Haec »5 
autem inventaria in visitatione dioecesium inspiciantur, 
et si quid deperditum reperiatur, curandum erit ut recu- 
peretur : excipiantur ab his tamen ea, quae de bonis ante 
ab ecclesiis ablatis jam apostolica auctoritate sancita 
sunt. «o 

Praeterea constitutio bonae memoriae Othonis et Otho- 
boni de dignitatibus et officiis ecclesiasticis sive proventi- 
bos ex spirituali exercitio provenient. nuUo mode locandis, 
8eu ad firmam et affictum dandis innovatur ; ac ne reliqua 
beneficia ecclesiastica ultra anni spatium cum uUa invoca- ^5 
tionis spe, sine ordinarii consensu, ad firmam concedi 
liceat, vetatur. 

De pueris edticandu in ecclesiis. Decretum undecimum. 

Statutum est, ut singulae hujus regni metropolitanae et 
cathedrales ecclesiae certum puerorum numerum, vel semi- 30 
narium quoddam pro cujusque proventu et dioecesis mag- 
nitudine alere teneantur. In hunc autem numerum non 
cooptabuntur, nisi qui annos undecim vel duodecim ad 
minimum nati sint, quique pauperes potios parentes, quam 
dlvites habeant ; qui bonae indolis 9C apei sint ; qui legere ss 



^555] OoMHtuHones bgatinaB BegmaUi PM. VSd 

et scribere sciant : erudiendi sunt hii in grammatica, et in 
ecclesiastica disciplina diligenter instituendi. Horum dua& 
erunt classes ; altera provectiores aetate et doctrina con- 
tinebit, qui acolythi sint ; hisque praeter victum et togam 

5 annuam, quam liberalem vocant, aliquid etiam mercedii^ 
constituetur ; in altera juniores erunt» quibus toga tantuln 
et mensa dabitur. Incedent autem onmes, utriusque sint 
classis, cum tonsura et vestitu clericali, eodemque vivendi 
modo utentur, et divinis in ecclesia officiis inservient. Ex 

lo acolythorum classe quicunque ad aetatem legitimam per- 
venerint, et in moribus literisque profecerint, sacris initia- 
buntur ordinibus, et in quocunque ecclesiae ministerio 
episcopo et capitulo visum fiierit^ operam suam praesta- 
bunt ; bisque pro cujusque merito de beneficio • aliquo 

15 providebitur : quorum in locum alii ex inferiori claase 
substituentur. Licebit etiam extra hunc numerum aliis 
ejusdem civitatis et dioecesis pueris una cum his in gram- 
matica et Uteris erudiri, dmnmodo honesti sint, eodemque 
vestitu et moribus utantur, qui item in locum clericoruniy 

20 qui quocunque mbdo desiderabuntur, substituentur. 
Quousque autem certa dos huic operi assignabitur, archi* 
episcopi et episcopi omnes fructuum annuorum, quos ex 
proventibus episcopatuum suorum percipiunt, deductis 
decimis, subsidiis et feudis, quadragesimam partem cum 

15 ad ipsos pueros alendos, tum etiam ad mercedem solven- 
dam magistris, qui eos in grammatica et ecclesiastica 
doctrina et disciplina erudient, in singulos annos pendent. 
Quod item ut ab omnibus, qui praebendas vel beneficia 
quascuuque ecclesiastica aut jam obtinent, aut posthac 

30 obtinebunt, fiat ; statutum est auctoritate scilicet ut ex 
fructibus beneficiorum suorum, quae vel singula, vel pluia 
simul ad annuum censum viginti librarum ascendant^ 
partem quadragesimam ad hos ipsos usus in ea diceoesi, 
in qua beneficia obtihent, quotannis persolvant. Exigetur 

35 autem quadragesima haec pan ab his, qui per episoopum, 
decanum et capitulum quibus scholae eura conimittitnr» 



160 CanstiMianes legatinoB ReginaMi PoK. [XXXVII. 

ad hoc erunt designate Docendi munus nemo inposterum 
quovis in loco snscipere audeat, nisi ab ordinario exami- 
natuSy probatusque, et de libris, quos legere debet, ante 
admonitus fiierit; alioquin excommunicationis pcenam 
incurrat, et a docendo per triennium prohibeatur. Ex 5 
his veroy qui jam docendi munus exercent, si quis indignus 
fide, doctrina, vel moribus reportus fiierit, ejiciatur; sin 
dignus, confirmetur. 

De visitatione. Decretum duodecimum. 

Cum ecclesiarum visitatio ad vitia et abusus toUendos, lo 
ac rursus ad bonos mores inducendos, ac legum ecclesias* 
ticarum vim et usum retinendum non solum utilis, verum 
etiam necessaria sit ; placuit, ut episcopi, et alii locorum 
ordinarii dioeceses et loca sibi commissa juxta antiquam 
hujus regni consuetudinem, saltern singulis trienniis per '5 
seipsos, sin autem legitimo aliquo impedimento detinean- 
tur, per idoneos substitutes, juxta formam ab eadem 
synodo descriptam, visitent. 

Item, archidiaconi partem dioecesis sibi commissam in 
hiis, quae ad eos pertinent, secundum eandem formam 20 
visitent ; graviora autem, et quae per eos emendari non 
possunt, ad episcopos referant ; operam etiam dabunt, ut 
ea, quae in visitatione per episcopimi statuta et mandata 
sunt, perficiantur, ac de his, quae perfecta fuerint aut non 
perfecta, simulque de causis, quae eorum executionem ^5 
impediant, episcopum statim admonebunt ; atque ut 
iidem archidiaconi officio suo tam in visitationibus quam 
caeteris in rebus satisfaciant, constitutiones provinciales 
ac bonae memoriae Othonis, et Othoboni, sedis apostolicas 
legatorum, hac de re editae innoventur : et illi ejusdem 30 
Othoboni, qua cavetur, ne archidiaconi ob crimen mani- 
festum a delinquentibus pecunias accipiant, sed illud 
digna animadversione puniant, additum est; ut si quis 
contra id fecerit, poena dupli ejus, quod acceperit, per 
episcopum multetur, eaque pecunia in usum mensae scho- 35 



^5550 Artieuli XV. quihxA Cantab. S^c. 161 

larium convertatur. Ut autem ecclesiarum prselati offi- 
cium correctionis et reformationis libere exercere possint» 
constitutionem felicis recordationis Innocentii papae III, 
in concilio generali editam, qua statuitur, ut iidem prse-^- 
5 lati eorum, qui suae sunt jurisdictionis excessus, appella- 
tione postposita, vel consuetudine non obstante, corrigant 
et refonnent, innovari placuit, et ab omnibus observari 
praecipitur^. 



XXXVIII. 

Sede Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglue 

vacante. Tho. Cranmer. 33. >555- Maria 3. 

Quindecim artieuli^ quibus academid Cantabrigienses ah 
episcopo GardinerOy academice canceUario^ subscribere 
jubentur^. Ex MS. C. C. C. Cantab. Misc. P. f. 297. 

I. /^REDIMUS et eonfitemur unum Deum verum, 
,0 unum, omnipotentem, incorporeum, impartibi- 

lem, immensa potentia, sapientia, bonitate, creatorem et 
conservatorem rerum omnium visibilium et invisibilium ; 
et tres in divinitate distinctas personas, Patrem ingeni- 
tum, Filium unigenitum, et Spiritum Sanctum ab utroque 

15 ^ Constitutiones haB legatinse quarto post obitom card. Poll anno 
Romae prolixius, et si dicere £eis est, accuratius editae sunt sub titulo 
" Reformatio Angliae.*' Quia autem MSS. Cotton, et Cantabr. ex- 
emplar earum, uti clero Anglicano injunctae erant, continent ; lectiones^ 
que illarum variantes integrum potius tractatum sibi deposcere videntur, 

20 accessiones vel Transalpinas, vel extrasynodales hie omittere placuit.^-^ 

WiLKINS. 

^ Articulos hos episcopus Gardinerus vicecancellario universitatis 

Cantabrigiensis transmittit, injungens, ut nemo ad gradum aliquem 

academicum admitteretur^ aut suffiragium praestaret in congregations 

2^ nisi qui articulis hisce subscriberet. Numerus subscribentium erat 51. 

contradicentium duplo major ad lao. fere se extendebat. — Wilkins. 

VOL. I. M 



1 62 AfiicuU XV. giiXtm [XXXVIIL 

procedentem, ejusdem eesentiae^ potential, gloriae, et aeter- 
nitatis. 

II. Credimus Verbum Dei caraem assumpsisse ex vir- 
gine Maria, ita ut duas naturae, divina et humana in 
Christi persona inseparabiliter fuerint conjunctae, eundem- 5 
que vere passum, crucifixum, mortuum, ad inferos de- 
scendisse, et tertia die resurrexisse, atque in caelos ascen- 
disse, et ad dexteram Patris sedere. 

III. Credimus septem ecclesias esse sacramenta a Deo 
instituta ; nempe baptismum, confirmationem, eucha- 10 
ristiam, poenitentiam, extremam mictionem, ordinem, et 
matrimonium ; per quas Deus invisibiliter confert gratiam, 
et operatur nostram salutem sive per bonos, sive per ma- 
les ministros. 

IV. Credimus baptismum omnibus ad salutem esse 15 
necessarium, etiam in£mtibus; peccataque omnia tarn 
actualia, quam originalia baptismo toUi et plenarie deleri, 
adeo ut, qui rite baptizentur, filii Dei fiant et haeredes 
vitae aetemae ; eundemque baptismum nunquam esse ite- 
randum. 20 

V. Credimus hominem liberum habere arbitrium, quo 
potest male, et cum gratia Dei bene agere ; et post peo- 
catum admissum, Deo adjuvante, poenitere, et peccatorran 
remissionem consequi. 

VI. Credimus, quod nee sine fide nee sola fide sinews 
poenitentia et proposito vivendi secundum Dei mandata, 
aut sine spe et charitate homo possit justificari : eosque 
improbamus, qui vel solam fidem sine operibus satis esse 
ad salutem aflirmant, aut innovationem vitae et justitiam 
inhaerentem inficiantur et negant ; illamque fidei certitu- 30 
dinem, quam Lutherani jaetitant, ut quae nee scriptura- 
rum testimoniis nitatur, et pietatis et virtutum nervos 
elidat, dum pestilentem securitatem in hominum animis 
inserit. 

VII. Credimus opera bona adultis esse ad salutem 35 
necessaria, et cum ex fide et spiiitu charitatis procedunt. 



1 555 •] Cantabrigienses mbscrihere jubeniur. 163 

ita grata esse Deo, ut eis tanquam justam mercedem 
vitam retribuat setemam, illicque iu regno gloriosiorem 
eum fore, qui hie pluribus pietatis operibus abundat. 

VIII. Credimus in eucharistiae sacramento virtute 
5 verbi divini a sacerdote prolati, prsesens esse realiter 

naturale Christi corpus, quod de virgine natum est, et 
item naturalem illius sanguinem; neque manere jam 
amplius substantiam panis et vini, neque ullam aliam 
substantiam, quam Christi Dei et hominis ; unde eucha- 

10 ristiam sancte a nobis adorari, si^e in missa sive extra 
missam certa fide tenemus. In qua missa viyificimi esse 
Christi sacrificium tam pro vivis, quam pro mortuis pro- 
pitiabile, communionemque sub utraque specie ad salu- 
tem necessariam non esse asseveramus ; potestatemque 

>5 consecrandi corpus et sanguinem Christi esse concessam 
solis sacerdotibus, secimdum ecclesiae catholicae ritum 
legitime a Christo ordinatis. 

IX. Credimus matrimonium inter christianos legitime 
contractum esse indissolubile, qualiscunque fuerit alter 

2o conjugum, sive adulter, sive sterilis, sive haereticus. 

X. Credimus unam esse in terris catholicam Christi 
ecclesiam, eamque visibilem, quae a tempore apostolorum 
ad nostram aetatem durans in hiis, quae fidei sunt et 
religionis, non potest errare ; haereticisque, schismaticis, 

1$ et excommunicatis, et ab hac ecclesiae unitate alienis et 
avulsis nuUam superesse salutem ; unumque esse sub 
Christo summum pastorem, cui omnes obedire tenentur, 
simimamque banc praeposituram divum Petrum, verum 
in terris Christi vicarium, et generalem totius Christi 

30 familiae pastorem, primum omnium gessisse ; post Pe- 
trum vero ex Christi institutione omnes deinceps Roma- 
nes pontifices, Petri in cathedra successores. 

XI. Sanctos cum Christo agentes nos pie posse et 
debere venerari, eosdemque invocare, ut pro nobis orent, 

35 atque nostras preces et vota ab illis percipi, et eorum 
nos precibus juvari confitemur et agnoscimus. 

M 2 



164 ArticuU XV. qaibus Cantab. S^e. [XXXVIII. 

XII. Reliquias martyrum, et loca in eorum honorem 
consecrata pie et religiose a Christianis venerari, et invisi 
posse affirmamus ; imaginum quoque usum ferendum, et 
hominibus fructuosum esse fatemur, 

XIII. Credimus post banc vitam esse purgatorium, in 5 
quo animse defunctorum purgantur, poenaque adhuc pec- 
catis debita exsolvitur; sanetumque et salubre esse pro 
defunctis exorare, nostrasque preces, eleemosynas, jejunia, 
et opera alia pia, maxime autem altaris sacrificium illis 
multum prodesse persuasissimum habemns. 10 

XIV. Credimus pium esse vota Deo vovere, quae ubi 
jam facta et expressa fuerint, voventes coram Deo obli- 
gare et evangelicae libertati non adversari asserimus. 

XV. Detestamur insuper omnes errores Zuinglii, 
CEcolompadii, Lutberi, Calvini, Buceri ; et omnia alia n 
sive recentium, sive priscorum baerfeticorum adulterina et 
pestifera dogmata, quae sane scripturanun intelligentiae^ 
ortbodoxae fidei, et catbolicae Cbristi emesiae adversantur 
et repugnant. 

Haec omnia nos credere, et coram Deo sentire profite- «o 
mur, bancque nostram fidem manuum nostrarum 
subscriptionibus testificamur, contrariamque doctri- 
nam detestamur. Anno Domini m.d.lv. prime 
Aprilis. 



^555') -^ proehmatumfor rettraimuff booh, 4"^. 166 



XXXIX. 

Pi^MB Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglis 

Paul. IV. i. Tho. Crakmcr. 33. 1555. Marls 3. 

A proclamation set out by the king and queen for th4 
restraining of all books and writings tending against 
Uie doctrine of the pope and his church. — Fox, vol. iiL 

p. 271. ed. M.DCXLI. 

VI7HEREAS by the statute made in the second year 
of king Henry the Fourth, concerning the re- 
pressing of heresies, there is ordained and provided a 
great punishment not only for the authors, makers, and 

5 writers of books containing wicked doctrine, and errone- 
ous and heretical opinions, contrary to the catholic faithi 
and determination of the holy church, and likewise for 
their fautors and. supporters ; but also for such as shall 
have or keep any such books or writings, and not make 

10 delivery of them to the ordinary of the diocese, or his 
ministers within a certain time limited in the said 
statute ; which act or statute being by authority of Par- 
liament of late revived, was also openly proclaimed, to 
the intent the subjects of the realm upon such procla- 

15 mation should the rather eschew the danger and penalty 
of the said statute; and as yet nevertheless in most 
parts of the realm the same is neglected and little re- 

A proclamation set out"] ** There were articles also of enquiry set 
forth to the wardens of every company in London, as ' whether they 

30 had seen or heard of any of these books which had come from beyond 
seas ; namely, from Zurich, Strasburgh, Frankford, Wezel, Embden, 
Duisburgh.' This was proclaimed in London June 14. A great oc- 
casion of this proclamation and inquisition was, that there came over 
into England a book entitled, ' A warning for England,' giving wam- 

35 ing to the English of the Spaniards, and discovering certain dose 
practices for the recovery of abbey lands.** Strype» Mem. vol. iii« 
P. I. p. 418. Cranm. vol. i. p. 6o8. 

h3 



166 A prodamaUon/or restrainvng books [XXXIX. 

garded : the king and queen our sovereign lord and 
lady, therefore, &c. straitly charge and command, that 
no person or persons of what estate, degree, or condition 
soever he or they be, from henceforth presume to bring 
or convey, or cause to be brought or conveyed, into this s 
reakn any books, writings, or works hereafter mentioned ; 
that is to say, any book or books, writings or works 
made or set forth by, or in the name of Martin Luther, 
or any book or books, writings or works made or set 
forth by, or in the name of (Ecolampadius, Zuinglius, '<> 
John Calvin, Pomerane, John a Lasco, BuUinger, Bucer, 
Melancthon, Bemardinus Ochinus, Erasmus Sarcerius, 
Peter Martjrr, Hugh Latimer, Robert Barnes, otherwise 
called Friar Barnes, John Bale, otherwise called Friar 
Bale, Justus Jonas, John Hooper, Miles Coverdale, ^5 
William Tyndall, Tho. Cranmer, late archbishop of Can- 
terbury, William Turner, Theodore Basil, otherwise called 
Tho. Beacon, John Frith, Roy, and the book commonly 
called Hale's Chronicle, or any of them in the Latin 
tongue, Dutch tongue, English tongue, Italian tongue, so 
or French tongue ; or any other like book, paper, writ- 
ing, or work made, printed, or set forth by any other 
person or persons, containing false doctrine, contrary and 
against the catholic faith, and the doctrine of the ca- 
tholic church : and also that no person or persons pre- 25 
sume to write, print, utter, sell, read, or keep, or 
cause to be written, printed, uttered, or kept, any of the 
said books, papers, works, or writings, or any book or 
books, written or printed in the Latin or English tongue, 
concerning the common service and administration set 30 
forth in English, to be used in the churches of this 
realm, in the time of king Edward the Sixth, commonly 
called the Communion book, or book of common ser- 
vice, and ordering of ministers, otherwise called, the 
book set forth by authority of parliament, for common 35 
prayer and administration of the sacraments, or to be 



1555*] ^^ writings against the pope. 167 

used in the mother tongue within the church of Eng- 
land ; but shall within the space of fifteen days next 
after the publication of this proclamation bring or de- 
liver, or cause the said books, writings, and works, and 

5 every of them, remaining in their custody and keeping, 
to be brought and delivered to the ordinary 6f the 
diocese, where such books, works, or writings be or re- 
main, or to his chancellor or commissaries without fraud, 
colour, or deceit, at the said ordinaries' will and dispo- 

«o sition to be burnt, or otherwise to be used or ordered by 
the said ordinaries, as by the canons or spiritual laws it 
is in that case limited and appointed ; upon pain that 
every offender contrary to this proclamation shall incur 
the danger and penalties contained in the said statute, 

15 and as they will avoid their majesties' high indignation 
and displeasure, and further answer to their utmost 
perils. 

And their majesties by this proclamation give full 
power and authority to all bishops and ordinaries, and 

20 all justices of peace, mayors, sheriffii, bailiff of cities and 
towns corporate, and other head officers within this 
realm, and the dominions thereof, and expressly com- 
mand and will the same and eveiy of them, that they 
and every of them, within their several limits and juris- 

25 dictions, shall in the default and negligence of the said 
subjects, after the said fifi;een days expired, inquire and 
search out the said books, writings, and works, and for 
this purpose enter into the house or houses, closets, and 
secret places of every person of whatsoever degree, being 

30 negligent in this behalf, and suspected to keep any such 
book, writing, or works contrary to this proclamation ; 
and that the said justices, mayors, sheriflfe, bailiffii, and 
other head officers above specified, and every of them, 
within their said limits and jurisdictions, finding any of 

.^5 the said subjects negligent and faulty in this behalf, shall 
commit every such offender to ward, there to remain 

M 4 



168 Writ far burning Cranmer. [XL. 

without bail or mainprize, till the same offender or 
offenders have received such punishment, as the said 
statute doth limit and appoint in this behalf- Given 
under our signs manual at our honour of Hamptoncourt 
the 18th day of June, the first and second years of our ^ 
reigns. 



XL. 

Pftpae Rom. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angliae 

. Paul. rV. I. Tho. Cranmer. 14. 1555. Maria 3. 

King Philip and Queen Marjfs writ for burning of 
Cranmer. — Ex Rot. pat. 2. et 8. Phil, et Mar. 2. part, 
apud Burnet Hist. Reform, vol. ii. append, p. 300. 

Philip and Mary, &c. 

^T^O our right trusty Nicholas, archbishop of York, 
lord chancellor of England, greeting. We will and 
command you, that immediately upon the sight hereof, 
and by warrant of the same, ye do cause to be made a ^^ 
writ for the execution of Thomas Cranmer, late arch- 
bishop of Canterbury; and the same so made, to seal 
ivith our great seal of England, being in your custody, 
according to the tenor and form hereafter following. 

Philippus et Maria, Dei gratia, &c. majori et ballivis 
civitatis Oxon. salutem. Cum sanctissimus pater noster 
Paulus, papa ejusdem nominis quartus, per sententiam 
difiinitivam, juris ordine in ea parte requisite in omni- 
bus observato, et juxta canonicas sanctiones judicialiter 
et difiinitive Thomam Cranmer, nuper Cantuariensem 
archiepiscopum, fore haeresiarcham, anathematizatum, et 
hsereticum manifestum, propter sues varies nefandos 

King Philip and Queen"] Strype, Cranm. vol. i. p. 550. Bomet, H. 
R. vol. ii. p. 670. and P. 2, p. 421. Collier, vol. ii. p.. 392. 



10 



^555'^ ^^ f^^ 6i*nmi^ Cranmer, 169 

errores, manifestas et damnabiles haereses, et detestandas 
et pessiraas opiniones fidei nostrae catholieae, et univer- 
salis ecclesiae determinationi obviantes et repugnantes, 
et praedict. Thomam Cranmer multis modis contract. 

5 commiss. diet, affirmat. perpetrat. et publice et pertina- 
citer tent, et defens. judicavit, declaravit, pronunciavit, 
et condemnavit ; et eadem causa idem sanctissimus pater 
noster, papa Paulus quartus, judicialiter et diffinitive, 
more solito, praedictum Thomam Cranmer a praedicto 

lo archiepiscopatu, aliis praelaturis, dignitatibus, officiis, et 
beneficiis deprivavit, et abjudicavit, prout cunctam inde 
habemus notitiam : cumque etiam reverendus in Christo 
pater Edraundus, Londini episcopus, et Thomas, Elien* 
episcoplis, auctoritate ejusdem sanctissimi nostri patris 

15 papae praedictum Thomam Cranmer ab omni ordine, 
gradu, oflScio, et dignitate ecclesiastica, tanquam haeresi- 
archam et haereticum manifestum, realiter degradaverunt, 
vigore cujus idem Thomas Cranmer in praesenti haereti- 
cus et haeresiarcha juste, legitime, et canonice judicatus, 

10 condemnatus, et degradatus existit : et cum etiam mater 
ecclesia non habet, quod ulterius in hac parte contra tam 
putridum et detestabile membrum et haeresiarcham fa- 
cial, aut facere debeat ; iidem reverendi patres eundem 
Thomam Cranmer daninatum haereticum, et haeresiar- 

25 cham, brachiis et potestati nostris secularibus tradide- 
runt, commiserunt, et reliquerunt, prout per literas pa- 
tentes eorundem reverendorum patrum superinde con- 
feet, nobis in cancellaria nostra certificatum est : nos 
igitur, ut zelatores justitiae, et fidei catholicae defensores, 

30 volentesque ecclesiam sanctam, ac jura et libertates 
ejusdem, ac fidem catholicam manutenere et defendere, 
hujusmodi haereses et errores ubique, quantum in nobis 
est, eradicare et extirpare, et praedictum Thomam haere- 
siarcham ac convictum, damnatum et degradatum, ani- 

35 madversione condigna punire ; attendentesque hujusmodi 
haereticum et haeresiarcham in forma praedicta convic- 



170 Articles set forth by eardincU Pole. [XLI. 

tiim, damnatum, et degradatum, juxta leges et consue- 
tudines regni nostri Angliae in hac parte consuetas, ignis 
incendio comburi debere; vobis praecipimus, quod dic- 
tum Thomam Cranmer in custodia vestra existent, in 
loco publico et aperto, infra libertatem dictae civitatis 5 
nostras Oxon. ex causa praedicta, coram populo igni com- 
mitti, ac ipsum Thomam Cranmer in eodem igne realiter 
comburi fitcietis, in hujusmodi criminis detestationem, 
aliorum christianorum exemplum manifestum : et hoc 
sub poena et periculo incumbente, ac prout nobis subinde 'o 
respondere volueritis, nuUatenus omittatis. Test, nobis- 
ipsis apud Westmonasterium yicesimo quarto Februarii, 
annis regis et reginae secundo ac tertio. 

And this bill, signed with the hand of us the said 
queen, shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge for 15 
the same. 



XLI. 

Pftpae Ram. Archiepisc. Caut. Auno Christi R^. Auglias 

Pauli IV. 3. Regix. Poli i. 1557. MxRiiS 5. 

Articles set forth by cardinal Pole to he inquired in his 
ordinary visitation within his diocese of Cant. — Ex 
Holinshead Q. M. p. 1162. &c. 

Touching the clergy. 

THIRST, Whether the divine service in the church at 
times, days, and hours be observed, and kept duly, 
or no? 

II. Item, Whether the parsons, vicars, or curates do 20 
comely and decently in their manners and doings behave 
themselves, or no ? 

Articles set forth] Strype, Mem. vol. iii. P. i. p. 478. Collier, 
vol. ii. p. 402. 



^557-] Artidee iet foHh hy cardinal Pole. 171 

III. Item, Whether tfcey do reverently and duly 
minister the sacraments or sacramentals, or no ? 

IV. Item, Whether any of the parishioners do die 
without ministration of the sacraments through the neg- 

5 ligence of their curates, or no ? 

V. Item, Whether the said parsons, vicars, or curates 
do haunt taverns or alehouses, increasing thereby iniamy, 
slander, or no ? 

VI. Item, Whether they be diligent in teaching the 
10 midwives how to christen children in time of neceseityf 

according to the canons of the church, or no ? 

VII. Item, Whether they see that the font be comely 
kept, and have holy water always ready for children to 
be christened ? 

15 VIII. Item, If they do keep aU the names of them, 
that be reconciled to the duty of the church ? 

IX. Item, Whether there be any priests, that late 
imlawfuUy had women under pretended marriage, and 
hitherto are not reconciled ; and to declare their names 

30 and dwelling places ? 

X. Item, Whether they do diligently teach their 
parishioners the Articles of the fiedth, and the Ten 
Conmiandments ? 

XL Item, Whether they do decently observe those 
25 things, that do concern the service of the church, and 
all those things that tend to a good and Christian life^ 
according to the canons of the church ? 

XII. Item, Whether they do devoutly in their 
prayers pray for the prosperous estate of the king and 

30 queen's majesties ? 

XIII. Item, Whether the said parsons and vicars do 
sufficiently repair their chancels, rectories, and vicarages, 
and do keep and maintain them sufficiently repaired and 
amended ? 

35 XIV. Item, Whether any of them do preach or teach 



172 Articles set forth by cardinal Pole. [XLI. 

atiy erroneous doctrine, contrary to the catholic faith, 
and unity of the church ? 

XV. Item, Whether any of them do say the divine 
service, or do minister the sacraments in the English 
tongue, contrary to the usual order of the church ? 5 

XVI. Item, Whether any of them do suspiciously 
keep any women in their houses, or do keep company 
with men suspected of heresies, or of evil opinions ? 

XVII. Item, Whether any of them, that were under 
pretence of lawful matrimony married and now recon- lo 
ciled, do privily resort to their pretended wives, or that 
the said women do privily resort unto them ? 

XVIII. Item, Whether they go decently apparelled, 
as it becometh sad, sober, and discreet ministers; and 
whether they have their crowns and beards shaven ? '$ 

XIX. Item, Whether any of them do use any un- 
lawful games, as dice, cards, and otherwise, whereby 
they grow to slander and evil report ? 

XX. Item^ Whether they do keep residence and 
hospitality upon their benefices, and do make charitable 20 
contributions, according to all the laws ecclesiastical ? 

XXI. Item, Whether they do keep the book or re- 
gister of christenings, bur)ings, and marriages, with the 
names of the godfathers and godmothers ? 

Touching the lay people. 25 

First, Whether any manner of person, of what state, 
degree, or condition soever he be, do hold, maintain, or 
affirm any heresies, errors, or erroneous opinions, con- 
trary to the laws ecclesiastical, and the unity of the 
catholic church? 30 

II. Item, Whether any person do hold, affirm, or say, 
that in the blessed sacrament of the altar there is not 
contained the real and substantial presence of Christ; 



1557'] Articles set forth hy cardinal Pole. 17S 

or that by any manner of means do contemn and despise 
the said blessed sacrament, or do refuse to do reverence 
or worship thereunto ? 

III. Item, Whether they do contemn or despise by 
5 any manner of means any other of the sacraments, rites, 

or ceremonies of the church, or do refuse or deny 
auricular confession? 

IV. Item, Whether any do absent or refrain, without 
urgent and lawful impediment, to come to the church, 

10 and reverently to hear divine service upon Sundays and 
holy-days ? 

V. Item, Whether being in the church, they do not 
apply themselves to hear divine service, and to be con- 
templative in holy prayer, and not to walk, jangle, or 

»5 talk in time of the divine service? 

VI. Item, Whether any be fornicators, adulterers, or 
do commit incest, or be bawds, and receivers of evil 
persons, or be vehemently suspected of any of them ? 

VII. Item, Whether any do blaspheme, and take the 
20 name of God in vain, or be common swearers ? 

VIII. Item, Whether any be perjured, or have com- 
mitted simony or usury, or do still remain in the same ? 

IX. Item, Whether the churches and church-yards 
be well and honestly repaired and inclosed ? 

25 X. Item, Whether the churches be sufficiently gar- 
nished and adorned with all ornaments and books neces- 
sary ; and whether they have a rood in their church of 
a decent stature, with Mary and John, and an image of 
the patron of the same church ? 

03 XI. Item, Wliether any do withhold or doth draw 
from the church any manner of mooey or goods, or that 
do withhold their due and accustomed tithes from their 
parsons and vicars ? 

XII. Item, Whether any be common drunkards, ri- 

35 balds, or men of evil living ; or do exercise any lewd 
pastimes, especially in the time of divine service ? 



174 Articles set forth by eardmal Poh. [XLI. 

XIII. Item, If there be anj that do practise or ex- 
ercise any arts of magic or necromancy, or do use or 
practise any incantations, sorceries, or witchcraft, or be 
vehemently suspected thereof. 

XIV. Item, Whether any be married in the degrees 5 
of affinity or consanguinity prohibited by the laws of 
holy church, or that do marry, the banns not asked, or 
do make any privy contracts ? 

XV. Item, Whether in the time of Easter last any 
were not confessed, or did not receive the blessed sacra- 10 
ment of the altar, or did unreverently behave themselves 
in the receiving thereof? 

XVI. Item, Whether any do keep any secret con- 
venticles, preaching lectures, or reading in matters of 
religion, contrary to the laws? is 

XVII. Item, Whether any do now not duly keep the 
&8ting and embering dajrs ? 

XVIII. Item, Whether the altars of the church be 
consecrated, or no ? 

XIX. Item, Whether the sacrament be carried de-10 
voutly to them that fall sick, with light, and with a 
little sacring bell ? 

XX. Item, Whether the conunon schools be well kept, 
and that the schoolmasters be diligent in teaching, and 
be also catholic and men of good and upright judgment, n 
and that they be examined and approved by the ordinary? 

XXI. Item, Whether any take upon them to min- 
ister the goods of those that be dead, without authority 
from the ordinary ? 

XXII. Item, Whether the people in every pariah be 30 
charitably provided for ? 

XXIII. Item, Whether there do bum a lamp, or a 
candle before the sacrament ; and if there do not, that 
then it be provided for with expedition ? 

XXIV. Item, Whether inHuits and children be 35 
brought to be confirmed in convenient time ? 



^557'] Articles set forth by cardinal Poh. 176 

XXV. Item, Whether any do keep or have in their 
custody any erroneous or unlawful books ? 

XXVI. Item, Whether any do withhold any money 
or goods bequeathed to the mending of the highways, or 

5 any other charitable deed ? 

XXVII. Item, Whether any have put away their 
wives, or any wives do withdraw themselves from their 
husbands, being not lawfully divorced ? 

XXVIII. Item, Whether any do violate or break 
lo the Sundays and holy-days, doing their daily labours and 

exercises upon the same ? 

XXIX. Item, Whether the taverns or alehouses, 
upon the Sundays and holy-days, in the time of mass, 
matins, and evening-song, do keep open their doors, and 

15 do receive people into their houses to drink and eat, and 
thereby neglect their duties in coming to church ? 

XXX. Item, Whether any have, or do deprave, or 
contemn the authority or jurisdiction of the pope's holi- 
ness, or the see of Rome ? 

20 XXXI. Item, Whether any minstrels, or any other 
persons do use to sing any songs against the holy sacra- 
ment, or any other rites and ceremonies of the church ? 

XXXII. Item, Whether there be any hospitals 
within your parishes, and whether the foundations of 

n them be duly and truly observed and kept, and whe- 
ther the charitable contributions of the same be done 
accordingly ? 

XXXIII. Item, Whether any goods, plate, jewels, or 
possessions be taken away or withholden from the said 

30 hospitals, and by whom ? 



176 Q. ElizabetK's proclamation to forbid preaehinff. [XLII. 



XLII. 

Papn Rom. Sede Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angliae 

Pauli IV. 4. vacante. 155S* Elizab. i. 

Qtieen Elizabeth's proclamation to forbid preaching^ and 
allowing only the reading of the Epistles and Gospels^ 8fc. 
in English in the churches. — Strype's Ann. of the 
Reform, vol. i. app. p. 3. 

By the Queen. 

nPHE quenes majesty understanding, that there be 
certain persons having in times past the office of 
ministry in the church, which now do purpose to use 
their former office in preaching and ministery, and partly 
have attempted the same ; assembling speciallie in the 5 
city of London, in sondry places, great nomber of people; 
whereupon riseth amonges the common sort not only un- 
fruitful disputes in matters of religion, but also contention 
and occasion to break common quiet ; hath therefore ac- 
cording to the authority committed to her highness for 10 
the quiet govemaunce of all maner her subjects, thought 
it necessary to charge and commaimd, like as hereby her 
highness doth charge and commaund all maner of her 
subjects, as well those, that be called to the ministery in 
the church, as all others ; that they do forbear to preach, 15 
or teach, or to give audience to any maner of doctrine or 
preaching other than to the Gospells and Epistles^com- 
monly called The Gospell and Epistle of the day, and to 
the Ten Commandments in the vulgar tongue, without 
exposition or addition of any maner sense or meaning to 20 
be applyed and added; or to use any other manner of 
public prayer, rite, or ceremony in the church, but that 

Queen Elizabeth's'] Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. i. pp. 59. 77. and P. 2. 
p. 391. Burnet, H. R. vol. ii. p. 757. 



*SS^'] Q* EUzabeilC 8 proclamation to forbid preaMng. 177 

which is already used, and by law received, as the 
Common letany used at this present in her majestys 
own chappel^ and the Lord's prayer, and the Crede in 
English; untill consultation may be had by parliament, 

5 by her majesty, and her three estates of this realme, for 
the better conciliation and accord of such causes, as at 
this present are moved in matters and ceremonies of 
religion. 

The true advauncement whereof to the due honour of 

lo almighty God, the increase of virtue and godliness, with 
universal charity and concord amonges her people, her 
majesty mooste desjn^th, and meaneth effectually, by all 
maner of means possible, to procure uid to restore to this 
her realme. Whereunto as her majesty instantly re- 

15 quireth all her good, faithful, and loving subjects to be 
assenting and ayding with due obedience ; so if any shall 
disobediently use themselves to the breach thereof, her 
majesty both must and will see the same duely punished, 
both for the quality of the offence, and for example to all 

10 others neglecting her majesties so reasonable conmiaund- 
meut. Yeven at her highness palais of Westminster the 
27. day of December, the first year of her miyesties 
reigne. 

God save the queue. 



VOL. I. N 



178 Queen EUzabetKs injunctums [XLIII. 

XLIII. 

Papse Rom. Sede Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Augliae 

Pa(7Li IV. 4. vacante. i559- Elizab. i. 

Injunctions given by the qtieerCs majesty^ concerning both 
the clergy and laity of this realm, published anno Domini 
MDLix. being the first year of the reign of our sove^ 
reign lady queen Elizabeth. 

T^HE queen's most royal majesty, by the advice of her 
most honourable council, intending the advancement 
of the true honour of Almighty God, the suppression of 
superstition throughout all her highness's realms and 
dominions, and to plant true religion to the extirpation of 5 
all hypocrisy, enormities, and abuses, (as to her duty ap- 
pertaineth,) doth minister imto her loving subjects these 

Injunctions given by] ** Inj unctions for the ordering of matters of 
the church and religion were framed and set forth, to the number 
of UII, called the Queen's Injunctions, by virtue of her supremacy in 10 
causes ecclesiastical as well as civil. . . .Who the compiler or compilers 
were I cannot say assuredly, but I make littie doubt they were that 
select company of divines at Westminster, who had been employed in 
sir Thomas Smith's house in Canon Row about king Edward's Book, 
and other church matters; as Cox, Sandys, Grindal, &c. and most 15 
probably Parker among the rest, after his coming up to London. And 
to this business of the Injunctions I am apt to think Cox had respect in 
that passage of his letter to the divine at Worms (see Strype, Ann. 
vol. i. P. I. p. 197.), 'that they were then breaking down the popish 
hedge, and restoring the Lord's vineyard ; and that they were then in 20 
the work : but the harvest was great and the labourers few.' To be 
sure in these Injunctions sir William Cecil the secretary had a great 
hand ; who, as his office was, after the copy of them was brought to 
his hand, reviewed, considered, and worded them according to his 
discretion ; as appeareth by a passage in a letter of archbishop Parker 95 
to him April 11, 1575. ' Whatsoever the [queen's] ecclesiastical pre- 
rogative is, I fear it is not so great as your pen hath given it in the 
Injunctions.'" Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. i. p. 235. Burnet, H.R. vol. ii. 
p. 794. CoUier, vol. ii. p. 433. 



1 559-1 concermng both the dergy and laiig, 179 

godly injunctions hereafter following. All which injunc- 
tions her highness willeth and commandeth her loving 
subjects obediently to receive, uid truly to observe and 
keep, every man in their offices, degrees, and states, as 
5 they will avoid her highness's displeasure, and pains of 
the same hereafter expressed. 

I. The first is. That all deans, archdeacons, parsons, vicars, 
and all other ecclesiastical persons shall faithfully keep 
and observe, and as &r as in them may lie, shall cause to 

.0 be observed and kept of other, all and smgular laws and 
statutes made for the restoring of the crown, the ancient 
jurisdiction over the state ecclesiastical, and abolishing of 
all foreign power, repugnant to the same. And further* 
more. All ecclesiastical persons having cure of souls, shall, 

>5 to the uttermost of their wit, knowledge, and learning, 
purely and sincerely, and without any colour or dissimu- 
lation, declare, manifest and open four times every year 
at the least, in their sermons and other collations^ that 
all usurped and foreign power, having no establishment 

20 nor ground by the law of God, is, for most just causes, 
taken away and abolished ; and that therefore no manner 
of obedience and subjection within her highnesses realms 
and dominions is due unto any such foreign power. And, 
that the queen's power vnithin her realms and dominions 

35 is the highest power under God, to whom aU men, within 
the same realms and dominions, by God^s law, owe most 
loyalty and obedience, afore and above all other powers 
and potentates in earth. 

/. The first is] This injunction is copied from king Edward's, except 
that in this case the reference to foreign jurisdiction is made general ; 

30 whereas in king Edward's there is specific mention of " tiie bishop of 
Rome, his pretended and usurped power and jurisdiction." In con- 
formity with the same plan, the words " from the tyranny of the 
bishop of Rome, and all his detestable enormities" which had appeared 
in the Litany of both king Edward's Service Books, were omitted on 

35 the revision of queen Elizabeth. 

N 2 



180 Q^em EUzahetVs injunctions [XLIII. 

II. Besides this, to the intent that all superstition and 
hypocrisy crept into divers men*s hearts, may vanish 
away, they shall not set forth or extol the dignity of any 
images, relics, or miracles ; but, declaring the abuse of 
the same, they shall teach, that all goodness, health and 5 
grace ought to be both asked and looked for only of 
God, as of the very Author and Giver of the same, and 
of none other. 

III. Item, That they, the parsons above rehearsed, shall 
preach in their churches, and every other cure they have, lo 
one sermon every month of the year at the least, veherein 
they shall purely and sincerely declare the word of God, 
and in the same exhort their hearers to the works of 
£uth, as mercy and charity, especially prescribed and 
commanded in scripture ; and that the works devised by 15 
man's fantasies, besides scripture, (as wandering of pil- 
grimages, setting up of candles, praying upon beads, or 
such like superstition,) have not only no promise of 
reward in scripture for doing of them, but contrariwise 
great threatenings and maledictions of God, for that they 20 
being things tending to idolatry and superstition, which 
of all other offences God Almighty doth most detest and 
abhor, for that the same most diminish his honour and 
glory. 

IV. Item, That they, the parsons above rehearsed, 25 

//. relics or miracles;'] After these words in king Edward's In- 
junctions were the following : "for any superstition or lucre ; nor 
allure the people by any enticements to the pilgrimage of any saint or 
image." The practice was discontinued and the prohibition was no 
longer required. 30 

///. one sermon every month] The sermons required in K. Edward's 
time were " one sermon every quarter of the year ;" and the additional 
instances given of superstitious practices were " ofiering of money, 
candles or tapers, or relics, or images, or kissing or licking of the 
same." 35 

IV, Item, that they the parsons] This injunction is new, and in the 



1559*] caneeminff baih the deirgy and laUy. 181 

shall preach m their own persons, once in every quarter 
of the year at least, one sermon, being licensed especially 
thereunto, as is specified hereafter; or else shidl read 
some homily prescribed to be used by the queen's author- 
5 ity every Sunday at the least, unless some other preacher 
sufficiently licensed, as hereafter, chance to come to the 
parish for the same purpose of preaching. 

V. Item, That every holy-day through the year, when 
they have no sermon, they shall immediately after the 

«o Gospel openly and plainly recite to their parishioners in 
the pulpit the " Pater noster,** the ** Creed," and « Ten 
Commandments,'' in English, to the intent, that the 
people may learn the same by heart; exhorting all 
parents and householders to teach their children and 

15 servants the same, as they are boimd by the law of God 
and conscience to do. 

VI. Also, That they shall provide within three 
months next after this visitation, at the charges of the 
parish, one book of the whole Bible of the largest 

ao volume in English; and within one twelve months 
next after the said visitation, the Paraphrases of Eras- 
mus also in English upon the Grospel, and the same 
set up in some convenient place within the said church, 
that they have cure of, whereas the parishioners may 

35 most conmiodiously resort unto the same, and read the 
same, out of the time of conmion service. The chaiges 

place of one, which reqmred the removal of all images, and the ti^en 
or candles usually set before them, but expressly allowed " two lights 
upon the high altar before the sacrament, which, for the signification 

30 that Christ is the very true light of the world, they shall sufier to re- 
main still." It appears however from the Injunctions of the 3rd year 
of K. Edward (No. XV.) and the subsequent Injunctions of Bp. Ridley 
(No. XXI.) that the permission had in the meantime been wi^n- 
drawn. 

35 V. Item, That every hofy-dajf\ This is copied from king Edward's 
Injunctions. 

VI, Also, That they^ Taken without any alteration of importance 
from K. Eklward's Injunctions. 

' n3 



182 Queen MizahetKs injunctions [XLIII. 

of the Paraphrases shall be by the parson or proprietary 
and parishioners borne by equal portions ; and they shall 
discourage no man from the reading any part of the 
Bible, either in Latin or in English, but shall rather 
exhort every person to read the same with great humility 5 
and reverence, as the very lively word of God, and the 
especial food of man's soul, which all Christian persons 
are bound to embrace, believe and follow, if they look to 
be saved ; whereby they may the better know their duties 
to God, to their sovereign lady the queen, and their 10 
neighbours; ever gently and charitably exhorting them* 
and in her majesty's name straitly charging and com- 
manding them, that in the reading thereof, no man to 
reason or contend, but quietly to hear the reader. 

VII. Also, the said ecclesiastical persons shall in no 15 
wise at any unlawful time, nor for any other cause, than 
for their honest necessities, haunt or resort to any taverns 
or alehouses. And after their meats, they shall not give 
themselves to drinking or riot, spending their time idly 
by day and by night at dice, cards, or tables playing, or ao 
any other unlawful game ; but at all times, as they shall 
have leisure, they shall hear or read somewhat of the 
holy scripture, or shall busy themselves with some other 
honest study, or exercise; and that they always do the 
things which appertain to honesty, and endeavour to^s 
profit the commonwealth; having always in mind that 
they ought to excel all other in purity of life, and should 
be examples to the people to live well and christianly. 

VIII. Also, that they shall admit no man to preach 
within any their cures, but such as shall appear unto 30 

VIL Also, The said] The same. 

VIII, Also, That they] The same ; except that in this Injunction the 
queen's visitors are added to those who could grant licenses to preach, 
and that the last clause is new. The licenses granted hy the visitors 
were objected to by the bishops, and were soon revoked. Sec Strype, 35 
Ann. vol. i. P. 1. pp. 318 and 329. 



I j 59'] e(meeming hath the dergy amid laity. 18S 

them to be sufficiently licensed thereunto by the queen's 
majesty, or the archbishop of Canterbury or York, in 
either of their provinces, or by the bishop of the diocesei 
or by the queen's majesty's visitors. And such as shall 

5 be so licensed, they shall gladly receive to declare the 
word of God at convenient times, without resistance or 
contradiction. And that no other be suffered to preach 
out of his own cure or parish, than such as shall be 
licensed, as is above expressed. 

10 IX. Also, If they do or shall know any man within 
their parish or elsewhere, that is a letter of the word of 
God to be read in English, or sincerely preached, or of 
the execution of these the queen's migesty's injunctions^ 
or a fautor of any usurped and foreign power, now by the 

15 laws of this realm justly rejected and taken away, they 
shall detect and present the same to the queen's majesty, 
or to her council, or to the ordinary, or to the justice of 
the peace next adjoining. 

X. Also, That the parson, vicar, or curate, and pa- 

30 rishioners of every parish within this realm, shall in their 
churches and chapels keep one book of register, wherein 
they shall write the day and year of every wedding, 
christening, and burial made within their parish for their 
time, and so every man succeeding them likewise; and 

35 also therein shall write every person's name that shall be 
so wedded, christened and buried. And for the safe 
keeping of the same book, the parish shall be bound to 
provide of their common charges one sure coffer, with 
two locks and keys, whereof the one to remain with the 

30 parson, vicar, or curate, and the other with the wardens 
of every parish church or chapel, wherein the said book 

IX. Also, If they] The same ; except that in K. Edward's Injunction 
was special mention of " the bishop of Rome's pretended power.*' 

X. Also, That the] The same ; except that the penalty at the end 
35 was given in K. £d¥rard's Injunctions entirely to the poor of the parish. 

N 4 



184 Qfieen ElizahetK's infunetians [XLIII. 

shall be laid up. Which book they shall every Sunday 
take forth, and in the presence of the said wardens, or 
one of them, write and record in the same all the wed- 
dings, christenings, and burials, made the whole week 
before ; and that done, to lay up the book in the said 5 
coffer as before : and for every time that the same shall 
be omitted, the party that shall be in the fault thereof 
shall forfeit to the said church 3^. 4«/., to be employed, 
the one half to the poor men's box of that parish, the 
other half towards the repairing of the church. 10 

XI. Furthermore, because the goods of the church are 
called the goods of the poor, and at these days nothing 
less seen, than the poor to be sustained with the same ; 
all parsons, vicars, pensionaries, prebendaries, and other 
beneficed men within this deanery, not being resident 'S 
upon their benefices, which may dispend yearly twenty 
pounds or above, either within this deanery, or elsewhere, 
shall distribute hereafter among their poor parishioners, 
or other inhabitants there, in the presence of the church- 
wardens, or some other honest man of the parish, the 20 
fortieth part of the fruits and revenues of the said bene- 
fice; lest they be worthily noted of ingratitude, which 
reserving so many parts to themselves, cannot vouchsafe 
to impart the fortieth portion thereof among the poor 
people of that parish, that is so fruitful and profitable 25 
unto them. 

XII. And, to the intent that learned men may here- 
after spring the more, for the execution of the premises, 
every parson, vicar, clerk, or beneficed man within this 
deanery, having yearly to dispend in benefices and other .^o 
promotions of the church an hundred pounds, shall give 
31. 6s, Sd. in exhibition to one scholar in either of the 

XI. Furthermore] The same. 

XII, And, to the intent] The same ; except that the sum which is 
here specially mentioned as 3/. 6s. Sd, is left in K. Edward's Injunc- ^ 
tions under the general term of " a competent exhibition." 



1559*] concerning laik the deryy and Mty. 185 

universities ; and for as many c/. more as he may dispend, 
to 8o many scholars more shall give like exhibition in the 
university of Oxford or Cambridge, or some gramnoAr- 
school, which, after they have profited in good learning, 
5 may be partners of their patron's cure and chaige, as well 
in preaching, as otherwise in executing of their offices, or 
may, when time shall be, otherwise profit the common- 
weal with their counsel and wisdom. 

XIII. Also, that all proprietaries, parsons, vicars and 

10 clerks, having churches, chapels, or mansions within 
this deanery, shall bestow yearly hereafter upon the 
same mansions, or chancels of their churches, being in 
decay, the fifth part of that their benefices, till they be 
Ailly repaired, and shall always keep and maintain in 

15 good estate. 

Xiy. Also, That the said parsons, vicars, and clerks, 
shall once every quarter of the year read these injunctions 
given unto them, openly and deliberately before all their 
parishioners at one time, or at two several times in one 

30 day ; to the intent, that both they may be the better ad- 
monished of their duty, and their said parishioners the 
more moved to follow the same for their part. 

XV. Also, Forasmuch as by laws established, every 
man is bound to pay his tithes, no man shall by colour of 

25 duty omitted by their curates, detain their tithes and so 
requite one wrong with another, or be his own judge ; 
but shall truly pay the same, as hath been accustomed, to 
their parsons, ^rs and curates, without any restraint or 
diminution ; and such lack and default as they can justly 

30 find in their parsons and curates, to call for reformation 
thereof at their ordinaries, and other superiors, who, upon 
complaint and due proof thereof, shall reform the same 
accordingly. 

XIIL Also, Tkat aU] The same. 
35 XIV. Also, Tkat ik€ $aid] The tune. 

XV. Also, Fonuimiek'] Hie aame. 



186 Queen ElizahetVs injunctions [XLIII. 

XVI. Also, That every parson, vicar, curate, and sti- 
pendary priest, being under the degree of a master of art, . 
shall provide and have of his own, within three months 
after this visitation, the new Testament both in Latin and 
in English, with pai^phrases upon the same, conferring the 5 
one with the other. And the bishops and other ordinaries 
by themselves or their officers, in their synods and visita- 
tions, shall examine the said ecclesiastical persons, how 
they have profited in the study of holy scripture. 

XVII. Also, That the vice of damnable despair may lo 
be clearly taken away, and that firm belief and steadfast 
hope may be surely conceived of all their parishioners, 
being in any danger ; they shall learn and have always in 

a readiness such comfortable places and sentences of 
scripture, as do set forth the mercy, benefits, and good- «5 
ness of almighty God towards all penitent and believing 
persons ; that they may at all times when necessity shall 
require, promptly comfort their flock with the lively word 
of God, which is the only stay of man's conscience. 

XVIII. Also, To avoid all contention and strife, which ao 
heretofore hath risen among the queen's majesty's sub- 
jects in simdry places of her realms and dominions, by 
reason of fond courtesy, and challenging of places in the 
procession ; and also that they may the more quietly hear 
that, which is said or sung to their edifying, they shall 15 

XVI, Also, That every'] The same ; except that in K. Edward's 
injunctions the degree mentioned is that of Bachelor of Divinity, and 
the Paraphrase to be studied is exclusively that of Elrasmus, thereby 
shewing the progress which had since been made in learning by the 
clergy. 30 

XVII, Also, That the vice] Abridged from the corresponding in- 
junction of K.Edward; and with this difference, that the expression 
which was previously " the damnable vice of despair" is now '* the vice 
of damnable despair." 

XVIII, Also, To avoid] The same as before ; except that •* commu- 35 
nion of the sacrament" is substituted for " high mass," and the last 
sentence respecting '* perambulation of parishes" is new. 



^559-1 concerning both the clergy and laity. 187 

not from henceforth in any parish church at any tune use 
any procession about the church or churchyard^ or at any 
place ; but immediately before the time of communion of 
the sacrament, the priests with other of the quire shall 

5 kneel in the midst of the church, and sing or say plainly 
and distinctly the Litany, which is set forth in English, 
with all the suflBrages following, to the intent the people 
may hear and answer; and none other procession or 
litany to be had or used, but the said litany in English, 

lo adding nothing thereto, but as it is now appointed. And 
in cathedral or collegiate churches the same shall be 
done in such places, and in such sort, as our commis- 
sioners in our visitation shall appoint. And in the time 
of the litany, of the common prayer, of the sermon, and 

15 when the priest readeth the scripture to the parishioners, 
no manner of persons, without a just and urgent cause, 
shall use any walking in the church, nor shall depart out 
of the church ; and all ringing and knolling of bells shall 
be utterly forborne at that time, except one bell at conve- 

^onient time to be rung or knolled before the sermon. 
But yet for retaining of the perambulation of the circuits 
of parishes, they shall once in the year at the time ac- 
customed, with the curate and substantial men of the 
parish, walk about the parishes, as they were accustomed, 

95 and at their return to the church, make their common 
prayers. 

XIX. Provided, That the curate in their said common 
perambulations, used heretofore in the days of rogations, 
at certain convenient places shall admonish the people to 

30 give thanks to God, in the beholding of God's benefits, 
for the increase and abundance of his fruits upon the face 
of the earth, with the saying of the 103rd Psalm, " Bene- 
dic anima mea," &c. At which time also the same min- 
ister shall inculcate these or such sentences: '* Cursed 

35 XIX. Provided, Thai the} This is new. 



188 Qiieen EUzahetlCs injunctions [XLIII. 

be he, which translateth the bounds and doles of his 
neighbour." Or such other order of prayers, as shall be 
hereafter appointed. 

XX. Item, All the queen's faithful and loving subjects 
shall from henceforth celebrate and keep their holy-day s 
according to God's will and pleasure ; that is, in hearing 
the word of God read and taught, in private and public 
prayers, in knowledging their offences unto God, and 
amendment of the same, in reconciling themselves cha- 
ritably to their neighbours, where displeasure hath been, lo 
in oftentimes receiving the communion of the very body 
and blood of Christ, in visiting of the poor and sick, 
using all soberness and godly conversation. Yet not- 
withstanding, all parsons, vicars and curates, shall teach 
and declare unto their parishioners, that they may with a 15 
safe and quiet conscience, after their common prayer in 
the time of harvest, labour upon the holy and festival 
days, and save that thing which God hath sent ; and if 
for any scrupulosity or grudge of conscience, men should 
superstitiously abstain from working upon those days, 10 
that then they should grievously offend and displease 
God. 

XXI. Also, Forasmuch as variance and contention is a 
thing, that most displeaseth God, and is most contrary 
to the blessed commimion of the body and blood of our 25 
Saviour Christ, curates shall in no wise admit to the 
receiving thereof any of their cure and flock, which be 
openly known to live in sin without repentance, or who 
hath maliciously and openly contended with his neigh- 
bour, unless the same do first charitably and openly re- 30 
concile himself again, remitting all rancour and malice, 

XX, Item, All the queen's] The same as before; except that a 
preamble has been omitted. 

XXI, Also, Forasmuch as] The same as before ; except that the 
words " which be openly known to live m sm without repentance" are 55 
new. 



1559*] (xmeeming both the clergy and laUy. 189 

whatsoever controversy hath been between them. And 
nevertheless, the just titles and rights they may cha- 
ritably prosecute before such as have authority to hear 
the same. 

5 XXII. Also, That they shall instruct and teach in 
their cures, that no man ought obstinately and mali- 
ciously to break and violate the laudable ceremonies of 
the church, conmianded by public authority to be 
observed. 

lo XXIII. Also, That they shall take away, utterly ex- 
tinct, and destroy all shrines, coverings of shrines, all 
tables, candlesticks, trindals, and rolls of wax, pictures, 
paintings, and all other monuments of feigned miracles, 
pilgrimages, idolatry, and superstition, so that there re- 

15 main no memory of the same in walls, glass windows, 
or elsewhere within their churches and houses; pre- 
serving nevertheless, or repairing both the walls and 
glass windows; and they shall exhort all their parish- 
ioners to do the like within their several houses. 

2® XXrV. And, That the churchwardens, at the com- 
mon charge of the parishioners, in every church shall 
provide a comely and honest pulpit, to be set in a con- 
venient place within the same^ and to be there seemly 
kept for the preaching of Grod's word. 

^s XXV. Also, They shall provide and have within 
three months after this visitation, a strong chest with 
a hole in the upper part thereof, to be provided at the 
cost and charge of the parish, having three keys, whereof 

XXII. Also, That they shaH"} The corresponding injunction of long 
30 Ekiward condemns not only the " violation of laudable ceremonies/* 

but also the superstitious abuse of them, and mentions many instances 
of such abuse. 

XXIII, and XXIV."] No change of importance. 

XXV, Aho, They shall provide] The same as before ; except that 
35 the clauses, " or to the poor people of such parishes near, as shall be 
thought &c." and " to obits and dirges/' are new. 



190 Queen Elizabeth's injimctians [XLIII. 

one shall remain with the parson, vicar, or curate, and 
the other two in the custody of the churchwardens, or 
any other two honest men, to be appointed by the parish 
from year to year ; which chest you shall set and fasten 
in a most convenient place, to the intent the parish- s 
ioners should put into it their oblations and alms for 
their poor neighbours. And the parson, vicar and curate 
shall diligently from time to time, and especially when 
men make their testaments, call upon, exhort, and move 
their neighbours to confer and give, as they may well i© 
spare, to the said chest : declaring unto them, whereas 
heretofore they have been diligent to bestow much sub- 
stance, otherwise than God commanded, upon pardons, 
pilgrimages, trentals, decking of images, offering of can- 
dles, giving to friars, and upon other like blind devo- 15 
tions, they ought at this time to be much more ready 
to help the poor and needy; knowing that to relieve 
the poor is a true worshipping of God, required earnestly 
upon pain of everlasting damnation ; and that also what- 
soever is given for their comfort, is given to Christ him- 20 
self, and so is accepted of him, that he will mercifully 
reward the same with everlasting life. The which alms 
and devotions of the people the keepers of the keys 
shall at all times convenient take out of the chest, and 
distribute the same in the presence of the whole parish, «5 
or six of them, to be truly and faithfully delivered to 
their most needy neighbours ; and if they be provided 
for, then to the reparation of highways next adjoining, 
or to the poor people of such parishes near, as shall be 
thought best to the said keepers of the keys. And also 30 
the monies, which riseth of fraternities, guilds, and other 
stocks of the church (except by the queen's majesty's 
authority it be otherwise appointed) shall be put in the 
said chest, and converted to the said use ; and also the 
rents of lands, the profit of cattle, and money given or as 
bequeathed to obits and dirges, and to the finding of 



^559-] concerning both (he clergy avid laity, 191 

torches, lights, tapers and lamps, shall be converted to 
the said use ; saving that it shall be lawful for them to 
bestow part of the said profits upon the reparation of 
the said church, if great need require, and whereas the 
5 parish is very poor, and not able otherwise to repair the 
same. 

XXVI. Also, To avoid the detestable sin of simony, 
because buying and selling of benefices is execrable be- 
fore God, therefore all such persons, as buy any bene- 

lo fices, or come to them by fraud or deceit, shall be de- 
prived of such benefices, and be made unable at any 
time after to receive any other spiritual promotion ; and 
such as do sell them, or by any colour do bestow them 
for their own gain and profit, shall use their right and 

15 title of patronage and presentment for that time, and 
the gift thereof for that vacation shall appertain to the 
queen's majesty. 

XXVII. Also, Because through lack of preachers in 
many places of the queen's realms and dominions the 

20 people continue in ignorance and blindness, all parsons, 
vicars, and curates shall read in their churches every 
Sunday one of the homilies, which are and shall be set 
forth for the same purpose by the queen's authority, in 
such sort, as they shall be appointed to do in the preface 

25 of the same. 

XXVIII. Item, Whereas many indiscreet persons do 
at this day uncharitably contemn and abuse priests and 
ministers of the church, because some of them (having 
small learning) have of long time favoured fond fancies, 

30 rather than God's truth ; yet forasmuch as their office 
and function is appointed of God, the queen's majesty 
willeth and chargeth all her loving subjects, that from 



XXVI. Also, To avoid] The same as before. 

XXVII. Also, Because] The same as before, 
35 XXVIII. Item, miereas] The same as before. 



19^ Qtieen ElizdbetKs injtmctions [XLIII. 

henceforth they shall use them charitably and reverently 
for their ofRce and ministration sake, and especially such 
as labour in the setting forth of God's holy word. 

XXIX. Item, Although there be no prohibition by 
the word of God, nor any example of the primitive s 
church, but that the priests and ministers of the church 
may lawfully, for the avoiding of fornication, have an 
honest and sober wife, and that for the same purpose 
the same was by act of Parliament in the time of our 
dear brother king Edward the Sixth made lawful, where- lo 
upon a great number of the clergy of this realm were 
then married, and so continue ; yet because there hath 
grown offence, and some slander to the church by lack 
of discreet and sober behaviour in many ministers of the 
church, both in choosing of their wives, and indiscreet 15 
living with them, the remedy whereof is necessary to be 
sought : it is thought therefore very necessary, that no 
manner of priest or deacon shall hereafter take to his 
wife any manner of woman without the advice and 
allowance first had upon good examination by the bishop 20 
of the same diocese, and two justices of the peace of the 
same shire, dwelling next to the place, where the same 
woman hath made her most abode before her marriage ; 
nor without the good will of the parents of the said 
woman, if she have any living, or two of the next of her n 
kinsfolks, or, for lack of knowledge of such, of her 
master or mistress, where she serveth. And before she 
shall be contracted in any place, he shall make a good 
and certain proof thereof to the minister, or to the con- 
gregation assembled for that purpose, which shall be 30 
upon some holy-day, where divers may be present. And 



XXIX. — XXXIII.'] None of these mjunctions are taken from king 
Ekiward's, except the 39th, which requires the use of king Henry's 
Latin Grammar. Several of them however had been adopted during 
the interval. ^ 



^559'] c(»iceming both the clergy and laity. 198 

if any shall do otherwise, that then they shall not be 
permitted to minister either the word or the sacraments 
of the church, nor shall be capable of any ecclesiastical 
benefice. And for the manner of marriages of any 

5 bishops, the same shall be allowed and approved by the 
metropolitan of the province, and also by such commis- 
sioners, as the queen's majesty thereunto shall appoint. 
And if any master or dean, or any head of any college 
shall purpose to marry, the same shall not be allowed, 

I ©but by such to whom the visitation of the same doth 
properly belong, who shall in any wise provide that the 
same tend not to the hinderance of their house. 

XXX. Item, Her majesty being desirous to have the 
prelacy and clergy of this realm to be had as well in 

15 outward reverence, as otherwise regarded for the wor- 
thiness of their ministries, and thinking it necessary to 
have them known to the people in all places and assem- 
blies, both in the church and without, and thereby to 
receive the honour and estimation due to the special 

20 messengers and ministers of Almighty God ; willeth and 
commandeth, that all archbishops and bishops, and all 
other that be called or admitted to preaching or ministry 
of the sacraments, or that be admitted into vocation 
ecclesiastical, or into any society of learning in either 

^5 of the universities, or elsewhere, shall use and wear 
such seemly habits, garments, and such square caps, as 
were most commonly and orderly received in the latter 
year of the reign of king Edward the Sixth ; not thereby 
meaning to attribute any holiness or special worthiness 

30 to the said garments, but as St. Paul writeth : " Omnia 
decenter et secundum ordinem fiant." 1 Cor. 14 cap. 

XXXI. Item, That no man shall wilfully and obsti- 
nately defend or maintain any heresies, errors, or false 
doctrine, contrary to the faith of Christ and his Holy 

35 Spirit. 

XXXII. Item, That no persons shall use charms, sor- 

VOL. I. o 



1 94 Quern ElizabdKs injunctions [X LIII . 

ceries, enchantments, witchcraft, soothsaying, or any such 
like devilish device, nor shall resort at any time to the 
same for counsel or help. 

XXXIII. Item, That no person shall, neglecting their 
oven parish church, resort to any other church in time s 
of common prayer or preaching, except it be by the 
occasion of some extraordinary sermon in some parish of 
the same town. 

XXXIV. Item, That no innholders or alehouse 
keepers shall use to sell meat or drink in the time of 'o 
common prayer, preaching, reading of the homilies or 
scriptures. 

XXXV. Item, That no persons keep in their houses 
any abused images, tables, pictures, paintings, and other 
monuments of feigned miracles, pilgrimages, idolatry, and 15 
superstition. 

XXXVI. Item, That no man shall willingly let or 
disturb the preacher in the time of his sermon, or let or 
discourage any curate or minister to sing or say the 
divine service now set forth ; nor mock or jest at the «o 
ministers of such service. 

XXXVII. Item, That no man shall talk or reason 
of the holy scriptures rashly, or contentiously, nor main-* 
tain any false doctrine or error, but shall commune of 
the same, when occasion is given, reverently, humbly, «5 
and in the fear of God, for his comfort and better 
understanding. 

XXXVIII. Item, That no man, woman or child, shall 
be otherwise busied in the time of the service, than in 
quiet attendance to hear, mark, and understand that is 30 
read, preached, and ministered. 

XXXIX. Item, That every schoolmaster and teacher 
shall teach the Grammar set forth by king Henry VIII. 
of noble memory, and continued in the time of king 
Edward VI., and none other. 35 

XXX/X.] Sec No. II. 



1559'] concerning bath the clergy and laity. 19lS 

XL. Item, That no man shall take upon him to 

teach, but such as shall be allowed by the ordinary, and 

found meet as well for his learning and dexterity in 

teaching, as for sober and honest conversation, and also 

5 for right understanding of God's true religion. 

XLI. Item, That all teachers of children shall stir 
and move them to love and do reverence to God's true 
religion now truly set forth by public authority. 

XLII. Item, That they shall accustom their scholars 
lo reverently to learn such sentences of scriptures, as shall 
be most expedient to induce them to all godliness. 

XLIII. Item, Forasmuch as in these latter days 
many have been made priests, being children, and other- 
wise utterly unlearned, so that they could read to say 
15 matins or mass ; the ordinaries shall not admit any such 
to any cure or spiritual function. 

XLIV. Item, Every parson, vicar, and curate, shall 
upon every holy-day, and every second Sxmday in the 
year, hear and instruct the youth of the parish for half 
30 an hour at the least before evening prayer, in the Ten 
Commandments, the Articles of the Belief, and the 
Lord's Prayer, and diligently examine them, and teach 
the Catechism set forth in the book of public prayer. 
^XLV. Item, That the ordinary do exhibit imto our 
25 visitors their books, or a true copy of the same, contain- 
ing the causes, why any person was imprisoned, £amished, 
or put to death for religion. 

XLVI. Item, That in every parish three or four 
discreet men, which tender God's glory, and his true 
30 religion, shall be appointed by the ordinaries diligently 
to see that all the parishioners duly resort to their 
church upon all Sundays and holy-days, and there to 
continue the whole time of the godly service ; and* all 
such as shall be found slack and negligent in resorting 
55 to the church, having no great or ui^nt cause of ab- 
sence, they shall straitly call upon them, and after due 

oS 



196 Queen EUzabetKs injunotiom [XLIII. 

admonition if they amend not, they shall denounce them 
to the ordinary. 

XL VII. Item, That the churchwardens of every pa- 
rish shall deliver unto our visitors the inventories of 
vestments, copes, and other ornaments, plate, books, 5 
and specially of grails, couchers, legends, processionals, 
manuals, hymnals, portasses, and such like appertaining 
to the church. 

XLVIII. Item, That weekly upon Wednesdays and 
Fridays, not being holy-days, the curate at the accus- 10 
tomed hours of service shall resort to church, and cause 
warning to be given to the people by knolling of a bell, 
and say the litany and prayers. 

XLIX. Item, Because in divers collegiate, and also 
some parish churches heretofore there have been livings 15 
appointed for the maintenance of men and children to 
use singing in the church, by means whereof the laud- 
able service of music hath been had in estimation, and 
preserved in knowledge ; the queen's majesty neither 
meaning in any wise the decay of any thing, that might 90 
conveniently tend to the use and continuance of the said 
science, neither to have the same in any part so abused 
in the church, that thereby the conunon prayer should 
be the worse understanded of the hearers, willeth aijd 
commandeth, that first no alterations be made of such 35 
assignments of living, as heretofore hath been appointed 
to the use of singing or music in the church, but that 
the same so remain. And that there be a modest and 
distinct song so used in all parts of the common prayers 
in the church, that the same may be as plainly under- 30 
standed, as if it were read without singing; and yet 
nevertheless for the comforting of such that delight in 
music, it may be permitted, that in the beginning, or 
in the end of the common prayers, either at morning or 
evening, there may be sung an hymn, or such like song 55 
to the praise of Almighty God, in the best sort of 



^559'T concerning both tic chrgy €mi laity. 197 

melody and mudc that may be conveniently devised, 
having respect that the sentence of hymn may be under- 
standed and perceived. 

L. Item, Because in all alterations, and specially in 
5 rites and ceremonies^ there happen discord amongst the 
people, and thereupon slanderous words and railings, 
whereby charity, the knot of all Christian society, is 
loosed ; the queen^s majesty being most desirous of all 
other earthly things, that her people should live in 

ro charity both towards God and man, and therein abound 
in good works, willeth and straitly commandeth all 
manner of her subjects to forbear all vain and conten- 
tious disputations in matters of religion, and not to use 
in despite or rebuke of any person these convicious 

15 words, papist or papistical heretic, schismatic or sacra- 
mentary, or any such like words of reproach. But if 
any manner of person shall deserve the accusation of 
any such, that first he be charitably admonished thereof ; 
and if that shall not amend him, then to denoxmce the 

^o offender to the ordinary, or to some higher power, having 
authority to correct the same. 

LI. Item, Because there is a great abuse in the 
printers of books, which for covetousness chiefly regard 
not what they print, so they may have gain, whereby 

*s ariseth the great disorder by publication of unfruitful, 
vain, and infSBunous books and papers; the queen's 
majesty straitly chargeth and conmmndeth, that no 
manner of person shall print any manner of book or 
paper, of what sort, nature, or in what language soever 

^ it be, except the same be first licensed by her majesty 
by express words in writing, or by six of her privy 
council ; or be perused and licensed by the archbishops 
of Canterbury and York, the bishop of London, the 
chancellors of both univerrities, the bishop being ordi- 

35 nary, and the archdeacon also of Utie place, where any 
such shall be printed, or by two of them, whereof the 

o3 



198 Queen Elizabeth* s infuncthns [XLIII. 

ordinary of the place to be always one. And that the 
names of such, as shall allow the same, to be added in 
the end of every such work, for testimony of the allow- 
ance thereof. And because many pamphlets, plays, and 
ballads be oftentimes printed, wherein regard would be 6 
had, that nothing therein should be either heretical, 
seditious, or unseemly for Christian ears; her majesty 
likewise commandeth that no manner of person shall 
enterprize to print any such, except the same be to him 
licensed by such her majesty's commissioners, or three lo 
of them, as be appointed in the city of London to hear 
imd determine divers causes ecclesiastical, tending to the 
execution of certain statutes made the last parliament 
for uniformity of order in religion. And if any shall 
sell or utter any maimer of books and papers, being not >5 
licensed as is abovesaid, that the same party shall be 
punished by order of the said commissioners, as to the 
quality of the fault shall be thought meet. And touch- 
ing all other books of matters of religion, or policy, or 
governance, that have been printed, either on this side 20 
the seas, or on the other side, because the diversity of 
them is great, and that there needeth good consideration 
to be had of the particularities thereof, her majesty 
referreth the prohibition or remission thereof to the 
order, which her said commissioners within the city of »5 
London shall take and notify. According to the which 
her majesty straitly chargeth and commandeth all 
manner of her subjects, and especially the wardens and 
'Company of stationers to be obedient. 

Provided that these orders do not extend to any pro- 30 
fane authors and works in any language, that have been 
heretofore commonly received or allowed in any of the 
universities and schools, but the same may be printed, 
and used as by good order they were accustomed. 

LIT. Item, Although Almighty God is all times to 35 
be honoured with all manner of reverence that may be 



'559'] concerning bath the clergy and laity. 199 

devised ; yet of all other times, in time of common 
prayer the same is most to be regarded ; therefore it is 
to be necessarily received, that in time of the litany, 
and all other collects and common supplications to Al- 
5 mighty God, all manner of people shall devoutly and 
humbly kneel upon their knees and give ear thereunto ; 
and that whensoever the name of Jesus shall be in any 
lesson, sermon, or otherwise in the church pronounced, 
due reverence be made of all persons young and old, 

lo with lowness of courtesy, and uncovering of heads of the 
menkind, as thereunto doth necessarily belong, and here- 
tofore hath been accustomed. 

LIII. Item, That all ministers and readers of public 
prayers, chapters, and homilies shall be charged to read 

15 leisurely, plainly, and distinctly ; and also such, as are 
but mean readers, shall peruse over before, once or twice 
the chapters, and homilies, to the intent they may read 
to the better understanding of the people, the more 
encouragement to godliness. 

ao An admonition to simple men deceived hy malicious. 
The queen's majesty being informed, that in certain 



An admonition'] Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. i . p. 336. Cdlier, vol. ii. 
P* 433* " "^8 admonition may be reckoned in the nature of a con- 
temporaneous exposition of a law, as restraining the royal supremacy 

25 which was established by the act i. EUiz. c. i. and was asserted in the 
oath required by it . . . It was afterwards given in one of the 39 Articles, 
which having been confirmed by parliament, it is undoubtedly to be 
reckoned the true sense of the oath .... I conceive that it was intended 
not only to relieve the scruples of Catholics, but of those who had 

30 imbibed from the school of Calvin an apprehension of what is some- 
times, though rather improperly, called Erastianism, the merging of all 
spiritual powers, even those of ordination and of preaching, in thfiu 
paramount authority of the state ; towards which the despotism of 
Henry, and obsequiousness of Cranmer, had seemed to bring the 

35 Church of England." Hallam, Const. Hist. vol. i. p. 120. ed. 4to. 
1817. 

o 4 



SOO Queen ElizabetKi injfimctiom [XIJII. 

places of the realm, sundry of her native subjects, being 
called to ecclesiastical ministry of the church, be by 
sinister persuasion, and perverse construction induced to 
find some scruple in the form of an oath, which by an 
act of the last parliament is prescribed to be required of 5 
divers persons, for their recognition of their allegiance to 
her majesty, which certainly never was ever meant, nor 
by any equity of words or good sense can be thereof 
gathered ; would that all her loving subjects should 
understand, that nothing was, is, or shall be meant, or lo 
intended by the same oath to have any other duty, alle- 
giance, or bond required by the same oath, than was 
acknowledged to be due to the most noble kings of 
famous memory, king Henry the Eighth, her majesty's 
father, or king Edward the Sixth, her majesty's brother, h 

And further her majesty forbiddeth all manner her 
subjects to give ear or credit to such perverse and ma- 
licious persons, which most sinisterly and maliciously 
labour to notify to her loving subjects, how by words of 
the said oath it may be collected, that the kings or 20 
queens of this realm, possessors of the crown, may chal- 
lenge authority and power of ministry of divine service 
in the church; wherein her said subjects be much abused 
by such evil disposed pei-sons. For certainly her majesty 
neither doth, nor ever will challenge any authority, than «5 
that was challenged and lately used by the said noble 
kings of famous memory, king Henry the Eighth, and 
king Edward the Sixth, which is, and was of ancient 
time due to the imperial crown of this realm ; that is, 
under God to have the sovereignty and rule over all 30 
manner of persons bom vdthin these her realms, domi- 
nions and countries, of what estate, either ecclesiastical 
or temporal, soever they be, so as no other foreign power 
shall or ought to have any superiority over them. And 
if any person, that hath conceived any other sense of the is 
form of the said oath, shall accept the same oath with 



1559*1 ameemmg ftoA M^ elergf and laUjf. WSt 

this interpretation, sense, or meaning; her Huyesty is 
well pleased to accept every such in that behalf as ber 
good and obedient subjects, and shall acquit them of all 
manner of penalties contained in the said act against 
5 such, as shall peremptorily or obstinately take the same 
oath. 

Far tables in the church. 

Whereas her majesty understandeth, that in many and 
sundry parts of the realm the altars of the churches be 

10 removed, and tables placed for the administration of the 
holy sacrament, according to the form of the lavr thaie^ 
fore provided ; and in some other places, the altars be 
not yet removed, upon opinion conceived of some other 
order therein to be taken by her majesty's visitors ; ii 

>5 the order whereof, saving for an unifarmity, there seemeth 
no matter of great moment, so that the sacrament be 
duly and reverently ministered; yet for observation of 
one uniformity through the whole reahn, and for the 
better imitation of the law in that behalf, it is ordered* 

20 that no altar be taken down, but by oversight of tiie 
curate of the church, and the churchwardens, or one of 
them at the least, wherein no riotous or disordered man- 
ner be used. And that the holy table in every church 
be decently made, and set in the place, where the altar 

2$ stood, and there commonly covered, as thereto belongeth. 

For tables] Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. i. p. 237, '' This ordsr tot tte 
table and the bread was ocoaaioned from the variety used in bofii for 
some time, until these injunctions came forth. F<nr indeed in the be- 
ginning of the queen's reign the proteslants were nmdi divided in their 
30 opinion and practice abont them ; whioh was the cause of some dis- 
turbance. And the pi^pists made their advantage of it; laying to Hie 
charge of the protestants their mutability and incoostanoy. Thus did 
Thonms Dorman in his book called 'A Fh>of/'' &c. Strype, Ann. 
vol. i. P. I. p. 242. Comp. OoQier, voL ii. p. 433. 



202 Qt/mn Elizabeth's injunctions [XLIII. 

and as shall be appointed by the visitors, and so to stand, 
saving when the communion of the sacrament is to be 
distributed ; at which time the same shall be so placed 
in good sort within the chancel, as whereby the minister 
may be more conveniently heard of the communicants 5 
in his prayer and ministration, and the communicants 
also more conveniently, and in more number communi- 
cate with the said minister. And after the commimion 
done, from time to time the same holy table to be placed 
where it stood before. lo 

Item, Where also it was in the time of king Edward 
the Sixth used to have the sacramental bread of com- 
mon fine bread ; it is ordered for the more reverence to 
be given to these holy mysteries, being the sacraments 
of the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, that >5 
the said sacramental bread be made and formed plain, 
without any figure thereupon, of the same fineness and 
iashion round, though somewhat bigger in compass and 
thickness, as the usual bread and water, heretofore 
named singing cakes, which served for the use of the «o 
private mass. 

The form of bidding the prayers to be tised generally in 

thi^ uniform sort. 

Ye shall pray for Christ's holy catholic church, that is 

The form of bidding] This differs greatly from the corresponding «5 
form of K. Edward ; more especially in substituting the title *' supreme 
governor of this realm" for *' supreme head immediately under God," 
and in ordering *' praise" instead of '* prayer" for those " that are 
departed out of this life in the faith of Christ." It is retained and 
repeated with very slight alterations in the Canons of 1603. The 30 
objection of queen Elizabeth to the title " supreme head" was first 
suggested to her by Lever, (Burnet, H. R. vol. ii. P. 2. p. 465,) and 
is stated by Jewel in a letter to Bullinger (dated 2 2d May, 1559) in 
the following words : ** Regina non vult appellari aut scribi ' caput 



^5590 concerning both the clergy and laity. 203 

for the whole congregation of Christian people dispersed 
throughout the whole world, and especially for the 
church of England and Ireland. And herein I require 
you most specially to pray for the queen's most excellent 
5 majesty, our sovereign lady Elizabeth, queen of England, 
France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, and supreme 
governor of this realm as well in causes ecclesiastical, as 
tem])oral. You shall also pray for the ministers of 
God's holy word and sacraments, as well archbishops 

10 and bishops, as other pastors and curates. You shall 
also pray for the queen's most honourable council, and 
for all the nobility of this realm, that all and every of 
these in their calling, may serve truly and painfully to 
the glory of God, and edifying of his people, remember- 

»5 ing the account that they must make. Also ye shall 
pray for the whole commons of this realm, that they may 
live in true faith and fear of God, in humble obedience 
and brotherly charity one to another. Finally, let us 
praise God for all those that are departed out of this 

20 life in the faith of Christ, and pray unto God, that we 
may have grace for to direct our lives after their good 
example, that after this life, we with them may be made 
])artakers of the glorious resurrection in the life ever- 
lasting. 

25 And this done, shexo the holy-days^ and fasting days. 
All and singular which injunctions the queen's majesty 

^cclesiae Anglicanae.* Graviter enim respondit» illaxn dignitatem soli 
attributam esse Christo, nemini autem mortali con venire. Deinde, illos 
titulos ita foede ab Antichrist© contaminatos esse, ut jam non possint 

30 amplius satis pie a quoquam usurpari." Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. 2. p. 490. 
The same account was given by Parkhurst in a letter to Bollinger, 
May 21, 1559. Hess. Catal. vol. ii. p. 117. Comp. Burnet, H. R. 
vol. ii. p. 772. The subject of "prayers for the dead" has been con- 
sidered under (No. II.) king Edward's Injunctions. 

,^5 All and singular which injunctions] The archbishop and bishops after- 



204 Quern ElizabMi if^unOiom [XUII. 

minist^^th unto her clergy, and to all other her loTing 
subjects, straitly charging and commanding them to ob« 



wards drew up " Interpretations and further Considerations" of tliese 
injunctions for the better direction of the clergy, which are preserved 
in archbishop Parker's papers (vol. entit. S3modalia) at Cambridge, 5 
and are published by Strype, as follows : 

To the third injunction the mterpretation is, 

" That if the person be able, he shaU preach in his own person 
every month ; or else shall preach by another, so that his absence be 
approved by the ordinary of the diocese, in respect of sickness, service, lo 
or study at the universities. Nevertheless, for want of able preachers 
and persons, to tolerate them without penalty, so they preach in their 
own persons, or by a learned substitute, once in every three months of 
the year," 

Item, To the eighth, "That no visitors' licenses to preach be con- 15 
tinned in force." 

Item, That to the sixteenth article be added, "That at the arch- 
deacon's visitation, the archdeacons shall appoint the curates to certain 
texts of the New Testament to be conned without book ; and at their 
next synod to exact a rehearsal of them." 20 

To the nineteenth, " That in the procession [in Rogation week] they 
sing or say the two psalms beginning Benedic, anima mea, Domino, 
with the litany and suffrages thereto, with some sermon, or a homily 
of thanksgiving to Grod ; and moving to temperancy in their drink- 
ings." 25 

To the twentieth. Item, " That on Sundays there be no shops open, 
nor artificers going about their affairs worldly : and that all fairs and 
common marts falling upon the Sunday, there be no shewing of any 
wares before the service be done." 

Item, " That there be some long » Catechism devised and printed, for 30 
the erudition of simple curates : homilies to be made of those argu- . 
ments which be shewed in the book of homilies ; or others of some 
convenient arguments, as of the sacrifice of the mass, of the common 
prayer to be in English, that every particular church may alter and 
change the public rites and ceremonies of their church, keeping the 35 
substance of the faith inviolably, with such like. And that these be 
divided to be made by the bishops ; every bishop two, and the bishop 
of London to have four." 



A In distinction to the short Catechism in the Common Prayer Book. 



'559*1 conceminig both tk^ dtryjf wni Imfy. SMS 

serve and keep the same upon pain of depiivafciQiiv 
sequestration of fruits and benefices, suspension, ezooni* 



Item, " That 'all bidiope and others, having any living eockaastioal, 
shall go in apparel agreeable ; or else, within two monitions grvea by 
5 the ordinary, to be deposed or sequestered from his fruits, aooordmg to 
the discretion of his said ordinary, or his lawfrd deputy." 

Item, " That such as be for their wilfulness deprived in this neces- 
sity of mimsters, shall be called by the discretion of the ordinary to 
minister some cure upon reasonable wages ; else to be ordered accord- 
lo ing to the laws." 

Item, " That incorrigible Arians, Pelagians, or Free-will-men, be 

sent into some one castle in North Wales, or WaHiDgfbrd ; and there 

to live of their own labour and exerdse : and none other be s u£ RBred 

to resort unto them but their keepers, until they be found to repent 

15 their errors." 

Item, " That public teachers of grammar be neither offioefB in cities 
or towns ; or farmers, or otherwise encumbered worldly, to the let of 
their labours." 

Item, " That young priests or ministers made or to be made, be so 
20 instructed, that they be able to make answers acoordiiig to the form of 
some catechism to be prescribed : and that readers neitlier serve in any 
cure, nor where is any incumbent." 

Item, " That the churchwardens onoe in the numth dcdsre by thenr 

curates, in bills subscribed with their hands, to the ordinary, or to tbe 

15 next officer under him, who they be which will not resdily pay dieir 

penalties for not coming to God's divine service according to tbe 

statutes." 



Coneeminff the hook of%enic$. 

First, " That there be used only but one appwrd ; as the cope in the 
so ministration of the^Lord's supper, and the surpEce in all other mfad- 
strations : and that there be no other maimer and form <^ ministering 
the sacraments, but as the service book doth precisely prescribe, with 
the declaration of the Injunctions; as for example, the common 
bread." 
35 Item, " That the table be removed out of the choir into the body of 
the church, before the chancel door ; where either the choir seemeth 
to be too little, or at great feasts of receivings. And at the end of tte 
communion to be set up again, according to tiie Iijiinctions.* 

Item, '* That there be no other holy-days observed besides the Sim- 



206 Queen ElizahetlCs injimctiom [XLIII. 

munication, and such other correction, as to ordinaries, 
or other having ecclesiastical jurisdiction, whom her ma- 
days, but only such as be set out ^ in the act of king Edward, an. 5 
et 6, cap. 3." 

Item,*'* That the ministers receiving the communion at the hands of 5 
the executor be placed kneeling next to the table." 

Item, " That the communion bread be thicker and broader than it is 
now commonly used." 

Item, *' That private baptism in necessity, as in peril of death, be 
ministered either by the curate, deacon, or reader, or some other grave 10 
and sober man, if the time will suffer." 

Item, ** That children be not admitted to the communion before the 
age of twelve or thirteen years, of good discretion, and well instructed 
before." 

Concerning burials, christenings, admission of ministers, S^c, 15 

Item, " That when any Christen body is passing, the bell be tolled; 
and the curate be especially called for, to comfort the sick person. 
And after the time of his passing, to ring no more but one short peal ; 
and one before the burial, and another short peal after the burial." 

Item, " To avoid contention, let the curate have the value of the 10 
chrisom ; not under the value of four-pence, and above as they can 
agree, and as the state of the parents may require." 

Item, " That ministers being not learned in the Latin tongue, if they 
be well exercised in the scriptures, and well testified of for their Hves 
and conversations, and of their wives, to be tolerated in the office of ^5 
deacons ; and after a good time of experience to admit them to the 
order of priesthood. And of such as be skilled in the Latin tongue, to 
have good examination of their competent knowledge in the principal 
articles of the faith, and of some competent matter to comfort the sick 
and weak in conscience, [ere they be admitted to higher orders."] 30 

Item, ** Against the day of ordering appointed, to give open recogni- 
zations to all men, to except against such whom they know to be not 
worthy, either for life or conversation. And there to give notice, that 
lione shaU sue for orders but within their own diocese, where they were 
bom, or had there long time of dwelling ; and that by the testimony of 35 
their ordinaries ; except of such as be degreed in the universities." 

^ Those words in italic were inserted by archbishop Parker*s hand, instead of 
these words crossed through, viz. in the calendar qfthe service hook, trith two day* 
following the feasts of Easter and Pentecost. 



^559-] concerning both the clergy and laity, 207 

jesty hath appointed, or shall appoint for the due execu- 
tion of the same, shall be seen convenient ; charging and 

Item, ** That canonical impediments be still observed to respect 
them which sue to be ordered, except they have decency agreeable to 
5 the same." 

Item, " That ministers or readers of service remove not from the 
diocese or cure where they first began, and were admitted by the ordi- 
nary' ; except they bring letters testimonial of their removing, allowed 
by the ordinary." 
lo Item, '* Suit to be made to the queen's majesty for reformation of 
pensions imposed." 

Item, '* That the order of the articles prescribed to ministers be in- 
serted in this form, ut infra.** 

Item, " Tliat one brief form of declaration be made, setting out the 
15 principal articles of our rehgion; the rather, for the unity of doctrine 
in the whole realm : especially to be spoken by the parsons, curates, or 
both, at their first entry ; and after, twice in the year, for avoiding all 
doubt and suspicion of varying from the doctrine determined in the 
realm." 
20 Item, '* That the bishops do call home once in the year any pre- 
bendary in their church which studieth in the universities, to know 
how he profiteth in learning; and that he be not suffered to be a 
serving or waiting-man dissolutely ; or else to sequester the fruits of 

his living." 
2- Matrimony, 

'* For the banns asking, forasmuch as the statute of faculties doth 
not define the cause, whether the canon or the custom hitherto in use 
may be followed without danger or no, it is left to every man's pru- 
dence. 
30 " Whether a bishop may dispense in times prohibited: in which 
matter deUberation is thought best." 

Collation 0/ benefices. 

First, Agreed, " That no bishop shall grant in writing any advowson 
of his patronage, until the benefice be void ; except that, in a synod or 
35 convocation, the more part of the bishops do think it reasonable to be 
released in some special case." 

Item, ** That from this day forth no confirmation [perhaps it should 
be dispensation'] be given by any bishop for term of years upon benefice 
with cure." 

Item, •* That no bishop hereafter shall ever grant any appropriation 
to be new^ly made without the like consent as in the first article." 



S08 Queen EUzahetKe injunctions [XLIII. 

commanding them to see these injunctions obseryed and 
kept of all persons being under their jurisdiction, as thej 
will answer to her majesty for the contrary. And her 

Item, '* That the ordinaries do use all good, diligent examination, to 
foresee all simoniacal pacts or covenants with their presenters, for the 5 
spoil of their glehe and tenths." 

Item, " That the ordinary shew to the curates, in their suits for 
their tithes, &c. reasonable favour with expedition: so that their 
causes be determinate within three weeks, if the case doth not evidently 
require more leisure." lo 

The articles of the principle heads of religion prescribed to 
ministers, as was mentioned before, now follow : 

S. Scriptura in se continet omnem doctrinam pietatis : ex qua suf- 
ficienter et error omnis convinci possit, et Veritas stabiliri. 

Symbolum Nicenum, Athanasii, et quod commimiter Apostolorum 15 
dicitur, continet brevissime articulos fidei nostrse sparsim in scripturis 
ostensos. Qui istis non crediderint inter veros catholicos non sunt 
recipiendi. 

Ecclesia Christi est, in qua purum Dei verbum praedicatur, et sacra- 
menta juxta Christi ordinationem administrantur : et in qua clavium 20 
authoritas retinetur. 

Qusevis ecclesia particularis authoritatem instituendi, mutandi, et 
abrogandi ceremonias et ritus ecclesiasticos habet ; modo ad decorem, 
ordinem, et sedificationem fiat. 

Christus tantum duo sacramenta expresse nobis commendat, bap- 25 
tisma et eucharistiam : quibus confertur gratia rite sumentibus, etiamsi 
malus sit minister. £t non prosunt indigne suscipientibus quantumvis 
bonus sit minister. 

Laudandus est ecclesise mos baptizandi parvulos, et retinendus est. 

Ccena Dominica non est tantum symbolum mutuse benevolentise 30 
Christianorum inter se ; sed magis symbolum est nostrse redemptionis 
per Christi mortem, et nostras conjunctionis cum Christo. Ubi fideli- 
bus vere datur et exhibetur communio corporis et sanguinis Domini. 

Sacramentum eucharistise [neque ex prsecepto] neque ex usu pri- 
msevsB ecclesias aut servabatur, aut circumferebatur, vel elevabatur, ut 35 
adoraretur. ^ 

Missa, ut consuevit a sacerdotibus dici, non erat a Christo instituta, 
sed a multis Romaais pontificibus consarcinata. Nee est sacnfidum 
propitiatorium pro vivis et defiinctis. 



'559'] concerning loth the dergy and laity. S09 

highness's pleasure is, that every justice of peace being 
required, shall assist the ordinaries, and every of them, 
for the due execution of the said injunctions. 

Scholastica transubstantiatio panis et vini in corpus et sanguinem 
5 Christi probari non potest ex sacris Uteris. 

Non omne peccatum mortale, sen voluntarie perpetratum post bap- 
tismum, est irremissibile, et peccatum in Spiritum Sanctum. 

Post acceptum Spiritum Sanctum potest homo peccare, ac denuo 
etiam resipiscere. Nemoque sine peccato vivit, quamvis regenerads in 
lo Christo non imputatur. 

Justificatio ex sola fide est certissima doctrina Christianorum. 
Elizabetha regina Anglis est unicus et supremus gubemator hujua 
regni et omnium dominiorum et regionum suarum quarumcunque, tarn 
in rebus et causis ecclesiasticis quam temporalibus. 
15 Verbum Dei non probibet foeminarum regimen ; cui obediendom est 
juxta ordinationem Dei ^. 

Romanus pontifex nullam habet jurisdictionem in hoc regno, nee 
alia quaecunque potestas extranea. 

Leges ciyiles possunt Cbristianos propter flagitia morte punire. 
30 Christianis licet ex jussu principis bella gerere, et ex justa causa 
jurare, et propria possidere ^. 

Doctrina scholasticorum de purgatorio, et inyocatione divorum, nul- 
lum babet fundamentum ex verbo Dei. 

Praeceptum Dei est, ut quae leguntur in ecclesia, ilia lingua proieraii- 
25 tur, quae ab ecclesia intelligatur. 

Absque externa et legitima vocatione non licet cuiquam sese ingerere 
in aliquod ministerium ecclesiasticum vel saeculare. 

Matrimonium inter Cbristianos l^;itime juxta verbum Dei initum 
et contractum, est indissolubile, nee per traditiones hominnm n n q u a in 
30 convellendum. 

Ccelibatus nulli hominum statui praedpitur, neque injungitur miniftris 
ecclesiae ex verbo Dei. 

Haec omnia vera esse et publice dpcenda profitemur, eaque juxta 

datam nobis feundtatem et eruditionem tnebimur et docebimus. 

35 Hancque nostram confessionem mannum nostnurum subscrip- 

tionibus testificamur, contrariamqne doctrinam abolendam esse 

judicamus, et detestamur. 

c Hie articulus additur, ut obviam eatnr Msorlioni Knmdi Sooti nnpene, et quor 
rundam Anglonim ezulum in Oeneva oommonuitiam. 
40 ^ Pladta anabaptistamm. 

VOL, I. P 



SIO Vmtatim articles in the [XLIV. 



XLIV. 

Papae Rom. Sede Cant. Anno Chmti R^. AngKc 

PauliIV. 4. vacante. 1559. Elizab. i. 

Articles to be inquired in the visitation in the first year of 
the reign of our most dread sovereign lady Elizabeth, 
by the grace of God of England, France, and Ireland 
queen, defender of the faith, anno Domini mdlix. 

THIRST, Whether any parson, vicar, or curate be resi- 
dent continually upon his benefice, doing his duty 
in preaching, reading, and duly ministering the holy 
sacraments. 

Item, Whether in their churches and chapels all 5 
images, shrines, all tables, candlesticks, trindals, and rolls 
of wax, pictures, paintings, and all other monuments of 
feigned and false miracles, pilgrimages, idolatry, and 
superstition be removed, abolished, and destroyed. 

Item, Whether they do not every holy-day, when they 10 
have no sermon, immediately after the Gospel, openly, 
plainly, and distinctly recite to their parishioners in the 
pulpit the Lord's Prayer, the Belief, and the Ten Com- 
mandments in English. 

Item, Whether they do charge fathers and mothers, 15 
masters and governors of youth, to bring them up in 
some virtuous study and occupation. 

Item, Whether such beneficed men as be lawfully 

Articles to be inquired'} This book of Articles was printed by Rich. 
Jugge and John Cawoode in the year 1559. ** Joined to this book of 10 
Articles was another little book entitled ' Interrogatories.' At the end 
is set the printer's name, viz. ' Imprynted at London in Foster Lane 
by Jhon Waley.' These were inquiries of some ordinary at his visita- 
tion» instituted soon after the year the articles aforegoing were set 
forth. And what they were see in the Appendix." (Strype, Ann. *5 
vol. i. P. 2. p. 494.) Ann. vol. u P. i. p. 244. 



15 J9*] fi^^ y^^ ^f 9^*^^ EUzahelh. 21 1 

absent from their benefices, do leave their cures to a 
rude and unlearned person, and not to an honest, well- 
leamed, and expert curate, which can and will teach you 
wholesome doctrine. 

5 Item, Whether they do discourage any person from 
reading of any part of the Bible, either in Latin or 
English, and do not rather comfort and eAort every 
person to read the same at convenient times, as the 
very lively word of Gk)d, and the special food of man's 

lo soul. 

Item, Whether parsons, vicars, curates, and other 
ministers be common haunters and resorters to taverns 
or alehouses, giving themselves to drinking, rioting, and 
playing at unlawful games, and do not occupy themselves 

15 in the reading or hearing of some part of the holy scrip- 
ture, or in some other godly exercise. 

Item, Whether they have admitted any man to preach 
in their cures, not being lawfully licensed thereunto, or 
have been licensed accordingly. 

»o Item, Whether they use to declare to their parish- 
ioners any thing to the extolling or setting forth of vain 
and superstitious religion, pilgrimages, relics, or images, 
or lighting of candles, kissing, kneeling, or decking of 
the same images. 

25 Item, Whether they have one book or register kept^ 
wherein they write the day of every wedding, christen- 
ing, and burying. 

Item, Whether they have exhorted the people to 
obedience to the queen's majesty and ministers, and to 

30 charity and love one to another. 

Item, Whether they have admonished their parish- 
ioners, that they ought not to presume to receive the 
sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, before they 
can say perfectly the Lord's Prayer, the Articles of the 

35 Faith, and the Ten Commandments in English. 

Item, Whether they be resident upon their benefices, 

p 2 



212 Vis^Uation articles in the [XLIV. 

and keep hospitality, or no: whether they do relieve 
their parishioners, and what they give them. 

Item, Whether proprietaries, parsons, vicars, and 
clerks, having churches, chapels and mansions, do keep 
their chancels, rectories, vicarages, and all other houses 5 
appertaining to them, in due reparations. 

Item, Whether they do counsel or move their parish- 
ioners rather to pray in a tongue not known, than in 
English, or put their trust in any certain number of 
prayers, as in saying over a number of beads, or other '«> 
like. 

Item, Whether they have received any persons to the 
communion, being openly known to be out of charity 
with their neighbours, or defamed with any notorious 
crime, and not reformed. 15 

Item, Whether they have provided, and have a strong 
chest for the poor men's box, and set and fastened the 
same in a place of the church most convenient. 

Item, Whether they have diligently called upon, ex- 
horted and moved their parishioners, and especially when «o 
they make their testaments, to give to the said poor 
men's box, and to bestow that upon the poor, which 
they were wont to bestow upon pilgrimages, pardons, 
trentals, and upon other like blind devotions. 

Item, Whether they have denied to visit the sick, or 25 
bury the dead being brought to the church. 

Item, Whether they have bought their benefices, or 
come to them by fraud, guile, deceit, or simony. 

Item, Whether they have given open monition to their 
parishioners to detect and present to their ordinary all 30 
adulterers and fornicators, and such men as have two 
wives living within their parishes. 

Item, Whether they have monished their parishioners 
openly, that they should not sell, give, nor otherwise 
alienate any of their church goods. 35 

Item, Whether they or any of them, do keep more 



I559-] first year of queen EKzabeih. 818 

benefices and other ecclesiastical promotions, than they 
ought to do, not having sufficient licenses and dispen- 
sations thereunto ; and how many they be, and their 
names. 
5 Item, A^Tiether they minister the holy communion any 
otherAvise, than only, after such form and manner, as it is 
set forth by the common authority of the queen's ma- 
jesty and the parliament. 

Item, Whether you know any person within your 
«o parish or elsewhere, that is a letter of the word of God 
to be read in English, or sincerely preached in place and 
times convenient. 

Item, Whether in the time of the Litany, or any other 
common prayer, in time of the sermon or homily, and 
'5 when the priest readeth the scriptures to the parish- 
ioners, any person have departed out of the church with- 
out just and necessary cause, or disturbed the minister 
otherwise. 

Item, Whether the money coming and rising of any 

20 cattel, or other movable stocks of the church, and 

money given and bequeathed to the finding torches, 

lights, tapers, or lamps, not paid out of any lands, have 

not been employed to the poor men's chest. 

Item, Who hath the said stocks and money in their 
^5 hands, and what be their names. 

Item, Whether any undiscreet person do uncharitably 
contemn and abuse priests and ministers of the church. 

Item, Whether there be any other grammar taught in 
any school within this diocese, than that, which is set 
30 forth by the authority of king Henry the Eighth. 

Item, Whether the service of the church be done at 
due and convenient hours. 

Item, Whether any have used to commune, jangle, 
and talk in the church in the time of prayer, reading 
35 of the homily, preaching, reading, or declaring of the 
scripture. 

pS 



214 Visitatum articles m the [XLIV. 

Item, Whether any have wilfully maintained and de- 
fended any heresies, errors, or false opinions contrary to 
the faith of Christ and holy scripture. 

Item, Whether any be common drunkards, swearers, 
or blasphemers of the name of God. 5 

Item, Whether any have committed adultery, forni- 
cation, or incest, or be common bawds, or receivers of 
such evil persons, or vehemently suspected of any of the 
premises. 

Item, Whether any be brawlers, slanderers, chiders, lo 
scolders, and sowers of discord between one person and 
another. 

Item, Whether you know any, that do use charms, 
sorceries, inchantments, invocations, circles, witchcrafts, 
soothsaying, or any like crafts or imaginations invented 15 
by the devil, and especially in the time of women's 
travail. 

Item, Whether churches, pulpits, and other necessaries 
appertaining to the same, be sufficiently repaired ; and if 
they be not, in whose default the same is. «> 

Item, Whether you know any, that in contempt of 
their ovm parish church do resort to any other church. 

Item, Whether any innholders or alehouse keepers do 
use commonly to sell meat and drink in the time of 
common prayer, preaching, reading of the homilies, or 25 
scripture. 

Item, Whether you know any to be married within 
the degrees prohibited by the laws of God, or that be 
separated or divorced without the degrees prohibited by 
the law of God, and whether any such have married again. 3 o 

Item, Whether you know any to have made privy 
contracts of matrimony, not calling two or more vnt- 
nesses thereunto, nor having thereto the consent of their 
parents. 

Item, AVhether they have married solemnly, the banns 35 
not first lawfully asked. 



1559*] fi^ 9^^ of queen EKzabeih. 815 

Item, Whether you know any executors, or admini- 
strators of dead men's goods, which do not only bestow 
such of the said goods, as were given and bequeathed, 
or appointed to be distributed among the poor people, 
5 repairing of highways, finding of poor scholars, or marry- 
ing of poor maidens, or such other like charitable deeds. 

Item, Whether you know any, that keep in their 
houses any unde&ced images, tables, pictures, paintings, 
or other monimients of feigned and &lse miracles, pil- 
lo grimages, idolatry, and superstition, and do adore them, 
and specially such, as haye been set up in churches, 
chapels, and oratories. 

Item, What books of holy scripture you have delivered 
to be burnt, or otherwise destroyed, and to whom you 
»s have delivered the same. 

Item, What bribes the accusers, promoters, persecu- 
tors, ecclesiastical judges, and other the commissioners, 
appointed within the several dioceses of this realm, have 
received by themselves or other of those persons which 
2owere in trouble, apprehended, or imprisoned for re- 
ligion. 

Item, What goods moveable, lands, fees, offices, or 
promotions have been wrongfully taken away in the time 
of queen Mary's reign Ifrom any person, which fiivoured 
25 the religion now set forth. 

Item, How many persons have for religion died by 
fire, &mine, or otherwise, or have been imprisoned for 
the same. 

Item, That you make a true presentment of the num- 
3ober of all persons, which died within your parishes 
sithence the feast of St. John the Baptist, which was in 
the year of our Lord God one thousand five hundred 
fifty and eight, unto the feast last past ; making therein 
a plain distinct declaration, how many men, women, 
35 and men children the same were, and the names of the 
men. 

p 4 



216 Visitation articles in the first year of Elizabeth. [XLIV. 

Item, Whether you know any man in your parish 
secretly, or in unlawful conventicles say or hear mass, or 
any other service prohibited by the law. 

Item, Whether you know any person in your parish 
to be a slanderer of his neighbours, or a sower of discord 5 
between party and party, man and wife, parents and their 
children ; or that hath invented, bruited, or set forth any 
rumours, false and seditious tales, slanders; or makers, 
bringers, buyers, sellers, keepers, or conveyers of any 
unlawful books, which might stir and provoke sedition, lo 
or maintain superstitious service within this realm, or 
any aiders, counsellors, procurers, or maintainers there- 
unto. 

Item, Whether the church of your parish be now 
vacant or no ; who is the patron thereof ; how long it 15 
hath been vacant ; who doth receive the tithes, oblations, 
and other commodities, during the time of the vacation, 
and by what authority; and in what estate the said 
church is at this time, and how long the parson or vicar 
hath had that benefice. 40 

Item, Whether any minstrels, or any other persons do 
use to sing or say any songs or ditties, that be vile or 
unclean, and especially in derision of any godly order 
now set forth and established. 

Item, Whether the litany in English, with the epistle %$ 
and gospel, which was by the queen's highness's procla- 
mation willed to be read to the people, were put in 
use in your churches ; and if not, who were the letters 
thereof. 

Item, Whether the curates and ministers do leisurely, 30 
plainly, and distinctly read the public prayers, chapters, 
and homilies, as they ought to do. 

God save the queen. 



15590 Cmumism reffia vititatorSnu in part^iu honalibm. 217 



XLV. 

Papse Rom. Sede Cant Anno ChrisU Reg. Anglui 

Pauli IV. 5. vacante. 1559. Elizab. i. 

Commissio regia vmtatoribus suis in partiius boredlibus. 
Ex Burnett, Hist. Reform, vol. ii. Collect, of Records, 
p. 350. 

rp LIZABETHA, Dei gratia Angliae, Francise, et HJt 
bemiae regina, fidei defensor, &c. charissimis consan- 

Commissio regia] " This was the first high commission that was 
given out ; that for the province of Canterbury was without <lpubt of 
5 the same nature. The prudence of reserving pensions for such priests 
as were turned out, was much applauded; since thereby they were 
kept from extreme want, which might have set them on to do mischief; 
and by the pension which was granted them upon their good behaviour, 
they were kept under some awe^ which would not have been other- 

10 wise. That which was chiefly condemned in these commissions was 
the queen's giving the visitors authority to proceed by ecdesiasdcal 
censures, which seemed a great stretch of her supremacy : but it was 
thought that the queen might do that, as well as the lay-chancelloni 
did it in the ecclesiastical courts ; so that one abuse was the excuse for 

15 another. These visitors having made teport to the queen of the obo- 
dience given to the laws and her injunctions, it was found that of 
9400 beneficed men in England there were no more but fQurteen 
bishops, six abbots, twelve deans, twelve archdeacons, fifteen heads of 
colleges, fifty prebendaries, and eighty rectors of parishea that had left 

10 their benefices upon the account of religion." Burnet, H. R. voL ii. p. 801 • 
(Comp. Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. i.pp. 245-247. Collier, voLii. p. 435.) 
Such is the description given by bishop Burnet. But it is evident that 
this commission only concerned the " visitation of the ecdesiastical 
state and persons," and did not extend to the reformation of all manner 

25 of heresies and offences. And so sir Edward Coke describes it in his 
Institutes (4 Inst. p. 326), and adds, '* This first commisskm Is said to 
be lost ; and enrolled it is not, as it ought to have been. And it is 
afiirmed by some that have seen it, that it passed not above twenty 
sheets of paper; but now the high commission contains above 300 

30 -sheets of paper. And it is likewise affirmed that never any higli com- 
mission was enrolled (as they all ought to haye been) until my lord 



S18 Conmisdo regia visUataribuB inpartibus barealUnu. [XLV. 

guineis et consiliariis nostris, Francisco comiti Salop, 
domino prsesidenti concilii nostri in partibns borealibus, 
et Edwardo comiti de Darbia, ac charissimo consanguineo 
nostro Thomffi comiti Northumb. domino guardiano sive 
custodi marchianim nostrarum de ^^ Le East March," et 5 
" Middle March," versus Scotiam ; ac perdilecto et fideli 
nostro Willelmo domino Evers, ac etiam dilectis et fide- 
libus nostris Henrico Piercy, Thomae Gargrave, Jacobo 
Crofts, et Henrico Gates, militibus ; necnon dilectis nostris 
Edwino Sandys, sacrse theologise professori, Henrico lo 
Harvy, legum doctori, Richardo Bowes, Georgio Brown, 
Christophoro Estcot, et Richardo Kingsmell, armigeris, 
salutem. Quoniam Deus populum suum Anglicanum 
imperio nostro subjecit, cujus regalis suscepti mnneris 
rationem perfecte reddere non possumus, nisi veram reli- 15 
gionem et sincerum numinis divini cultum in omnibus 
regni nostri partibus propagaverimus ; nos igitur regalis 
et absolutse potestatis nostrse nobis in hoc regno nostro 
commissae respectu, quoniam utrumque regni nostri sta- 
tum tam ecclesiasticum, quam laicum visitare, et certas 20 
pietatis ac virtutis regulas illis praescribere constituimus, 
prsefatum Franciscum comitem Salop. Edwardum comitem 
de Darbia, Thomam comitem Northumb. Willelmum 
dominum Evers, Henricum Piercy, Thomam Gargrave, 
Jacobum Crofts, Henricum Gates, milites ; Edwinum 25 
Sandys, Henricum Harvy, Georgium Brown, Christo- 
phorum Estcot, Richardum Bowes, et Richardum King- 
smell, armigeros, ad infrascriptum vice, nomine, et aucto- 
ritate nostris exequendum, vos, quatuor, tres, aut duos 
vestrum ad minimum deputavimus et substituimus. Ad so 

chancellor Egerton's time ( 1 596), so as no man before that tune could 
know what their jurisdiction was." Similar also is the account given 
by Stowe, who represents the commission as consisting of certain mem« 
hers of the Queen's privy council, empowered to deprive bishops and 
other ecclesiastics for refusing to take the oath of supremacy. Stowe, 35 
Hist. p. 639. Comp. Stillingfleet^ Works, vol. iii. p. 766. 



1559*] Cimmissio regia i)idtatoriiu8 in pariih^ 219 

visitandum igitur tain in capite, quam in membris eccle- 
sias cathedrales, civitates^ et dioeceses Eboracen. Cestrens. 
Dunehnen. et Carliolen. necnon qnascunque alias coUe- 
giatas, parochiales, et prsebendales eoclesias, et loca alia 
5 ecclesiastica quaecimque, tarn exempta, quam non ex* 
empta, in et per easdem civitates et dioeceses visibiliter 
constitutas, clerumque et populum eanmdem in eisdem 
degentes sive residentes; deque statu ecclesiamm et 
loconim hujusmodiy necnon vita, moribus» et conver- 

losatione, ac etiam qualitatibus personarum in eccl^iis et 
locis praedictis degentium sive commorantium, modis om- 
nibus, quibus id melius aut efficacius poteritis, inqui- 
rendum et investigandum ; criminosos, ac susceptfe leli- 
gioni subscribere obstinate et peremptorie recusantes, vel 

15 quocunque alio modo delinquentes, atque culpabiles, con- 
dignis pcenis, etiam usque ad beneficiorum, dignitatum, 
sive officiorum suorum privationem fructuum vel redi- 
tuum, et proventionem ecclesiarum, et locorum, quibus 
praesunty sequestrationem, vel quamcunque aliam con- 

20 gruam et competentem coercionem inclusiye puniendum 
et corrigendum; atque ad probatiores viyendi mores 
modis omnibus, quibus id melius, et efficacius poteritig, 
reducendum : testamenta quorumcunque defunctorum 
infra loca prsedicta decedentium probanda, approbanda» 

'5et informanda; administrationesque bonorum eorundem 
executoribus in eisdem testamentis nominatis commit- 
tendum, administrationesque insuper, ac sequestrationes 
bonorum ab intestatis, sive per viam intestatorum etiam 
descendentes, in debita juris forma expediendum, et con^ 

3ocedendum, ac committendum ; computes quoque tarn 
executorum, quam administratorum, et sequestratorum 
quorumcunque recipiendum, examinandum, admittendum, 
terminandum, ac insuper eosdem executores, adminis- 
tratores, et sequestratores omnes et singulos acquie- 

35 tandum, relaxandum, et finaliter dimittendum ; causasqne 
quascunque examinandum, audiendum, et finaliter ter- 



SSO 0<mmmo regia wsitatariius inpartiiHS honaliku. [XLV. 

minandum: contumaces autem et rebelles, ciyiiscimqiie 
conditionis sive status fuerint, si quos inyeneritiay tarn per 
censuras ecclesiasticas, quam personarum apprehensioneiii, 
et incarcerationem, ac recognitionem, acception^n, ac 
qufficimque alia juris regni nostri remedia compescendum; 5 
necnon injunctiones prsesentibus annexas, personis in 
eisdem nominatis, nomine nostro, tradendum, aliasque 
injunctiones congruas et competentes, vice et auctoritate 
nostris, eis indicendum, dandum, et assignandum, poenas- 
que convenientes in eanim violatores infligendum et irro- 10 
gandum : ecclesias etiam et alia loca dimissorum vacantia, 
et pro vacantibus habenda fore decemendum et declar- 
randum, pensionesque legitimas congruas et competentes 
cedentibus vel resignantibus hujusmodi assignandum et 
limitandum, prajsentatosque ad beneficia ecclesiastica quae- is 
cunquo infra civitates, ecclesias, aut dioeceses pr^edictas 
constituta, durante visitatione nostra hujusmodi, si habiles 
fuerint et idonei, ad eadem admittendum, ac de et in 
eisdem instituendum ac investiendum cum suis juribus 
et pertinentibus universis, eosque in realem, actualem, et m 
corporalem possessionem earundem inducendum, et in- 
duci faciendum, atque mandandum; necnon clericorum 
et beneficiatorum quorumcunque tam pro ordinibus, quam 
beneficiis per eos adeptis, literas et munimenta exigendum, 
et recipiendum, eaque diligenter examinandum et discu- n 
tiendum, et quos non sufficienter mimitos in ea parte 
compereritis, ab officio dimittendum, et sic jure munitis 
declarandum et prommciandum : Synodos quoque et 
capitula tam generalia, quam specialia cleri et populi 
hujusmodi per executionem praemissorum aut refonna-30 
tionem quamcunque faciendum et convocandum ; procu- 
rationes quoque et synodalia ratione nostras hujus visita- 
tionis debite petendum, exigendum, et levandum, ac etiam 
non solventes, aut solvere recusantes, per censuras eccle- 
siasticas compellendum, coercendum, et cogendum ; nee- 35 
non concionandi potestatem higusmodi personis conco- 



^559*] Commimo regia mritatwribui in pcaiUms horeaKbm. SSI 

dendum, quas ad hoc divinum munus miscipiendum aptas 
esse judicaveritis ; incarceratos quoque et vinculis com- 
missos ob religionis causam, antea licet condemnatos, 
causis incarcerationis, et condemnationis hujusmodi prius 
5 examinatis, et plenarie discussis, examinandum, discu- 
tiendum, ac in integrum, justitia id poscente, restitu-r 
endum, deliberandum, et extra prisonam dimittendum; 
necnon causas deprivationum examinandum; ac contra 
statuta et ordinationes hujus regni nostri Angliae, Tel juris 

to ecclesiastici ordinem deprivatos, restituendum ; ac omnia 
et singula alia, quae circa hujusmodi visitationis, seu 
reformationis negotia necessaria fuerint, sea quomodolibet 
opportuna, etiamsi verba magis specialia de se exigunt et 
requirunt, faciendum et expediendum, vobis, quatuor, 

1 5 tribus, aut duobus vestrum, ut prsefertur, de quorum emi- 
nenti doctrina, morumque et consilii gravitate, ac in 
rebus gerendis fide et industria plurimum confidimus, 
vices nostras committimus, ac plenam ii^ dicto tenora 
pnesentium concedimus facultatem, cum cujuslibet con- 

2ogrude et legitimes coercionis potestate. Et praeterea 
certos viros prudentes ac pios assignandum et nomi- 
nandum, per quos de statu rerum instruemini, et quorum 
opera praesentes utimini, in omnibus causis ad banc visi- 
tationem nostram spectantibus, quantum vobis convenire 

25 videbitur. lidem viri a vobis commissariis assignati, 
plenam potestatem habebunt, etiam post commissariomm 
decessum, et post finitum etiiUQi visitationis tempus^ de 
omnibus articulis, ordinibus, et institutis ejusdem visita- 
tionis inquirendi ; et violatores eorum, ciyuscunque con- 

aoditionis fuerint, conveniendi et examinandi; et omnes 
querelas, quatenus uUum impedimentum aut offensionem 
nostras visitationis continebimt, accipiendi et audiendi; 
et hujusmodi personas, offensiones, et querelas commis- 
sariis nostris Londini residentibus, et ad ecclesiasticarum 

35 rerum reformationem delegatis, praesentabunt et exhi- 
bebunt illis viis et modis, quibus hoc convenientissime 



322 Cmimimo regia visitaknibus inpartiius barealUms. [XLV. 

videbunt fieri posse ; mandantes omnibus et singulis ma- 
joribus, vicecomitibuSy justitiariis, ac quibuscunque aliis 
officiariis, ministris, et subditis nostris, quatenus nobis in 
et circa prsemissorum executionem effectualiter assistant, 
auxilientur, et suflfragentur. Ut insuper sagacitatis, dili- s 
gentiae, factorumque vestrorum omnium evidens et per- 
petuum specimen nobis posterisque nostris remaneat» 
inventaque et invenienda pro recordatorum defectu de- 
bitam reformationem, correctionemve non subterfiigiant, 
aut a memoria prolabantur ; nos suprema ac regali aucto- ^^ 
ritate nostra prs^cta, dilectos et fideles subditos nostros, 
Thomam Piercy, et Johannem Hoges, et eorum deputatos 
per commissaries nostros approbandos, notaries praecipuos 
perantea legitime existentes, actorum, instrumentorum, 
decretorum, summarum, judiciorum^ censurarum, caetero- 15 
rumque omnium et singulorum, quae per vos, vestrumve 
aliquem in visitatione hac nostra regia peragentur, judi- 
cabuntur, decementur, fient, ferentur, et pronimciabuntur, 
scribas, registrarios nostros praecipuos, et principales, con- 
junctim et divisim ordinamus, nominamus, et consti-10 
tuimus, eisque officium et officia registri scribe nostri 
in praesenti cum omnibus officia pr^dicta tangentibus, 
eorumque deputatis, per commissaries nostros appro- 
bandiSy conjunctim et divisim damns, deputamus, assig- 
namus, et decemimus per praesentes. In cujus rei testi- 25 
moniimi has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste 
meipsa apud Westm. 24. die Junii, anno regni nostri 
prime. 



'5590 ^^ quern's warrant m eau»e$ eedttiaitieal, S28 



XLV* 

Papa Rom. Sede Cant. Anno Chrisli Rag- Anglia - 

Pauli IV. 5. vacante. 1559. Elizab. i. 

The queen^s warrant for the court of high commission in 
catises ecclesiastical. (Tanner MSS. vol. 1. p. 5.) 

I. rp LIZABETH by the grace of God, &c. To the 
"^ reverend father in Grod Matthew Parker, nomi- 
nated bishop of Canterbury, and Edmund Grindall, nomi- 
nated bishop of London, and to our right trusted and 
5 right well-beloved councellors Francis Knowles our vice- 

The queen's warranfl Thia is the first warrant issued for the esta- 
blishment of a general and permanent court of high commission in 
causes ecclesiastical. On a comparison with other warrants issued 
afterwards, as new powers or a change of commissioners were wanted. 

lo (see Rymer, Feed. vol. xvi. pp. 291. 489. Strype, Grind. App. p. 543.) 
it will appear that it was found necessary in after-times to give the 
court the express power of interrogating the accused party on oath, a %«.^/^a^*) 
power which was exercised in the first instance under the generalg^^^^ ^ ^ 
clause of inquiring " by all ways and means they could devise," and*^***" '*• 

15 which became at last one of the principal reasons for the total sup- 
pression of the whole jurisdiction. " Whoever will compare the 
powers/' says Dr. Lingard, " given to this tribunal with those of the 
inquisition, which Philip the Second endeavoured to establish in the 
Low Countries, will find that the chief difference between the two comta 

20 consisted in their names." Hist, of Elngl. vol. ▼• p. 316. But Dr. Lin* 
gard ought to have added, that though such commissions were not un^ 
known in the time of Edward VI. the person who first brought into Eing- 
land the model attempted in the Low Countries was queen Mary^ as 
may be seen from her general commission dated Feb. 8, 1556, (Bur- 

25 net, H. R. vol. ii. P. 2. p. 435,) and her special commission dated 
Feb. 16, 1556, (Wilkins, Concil. vol. iv. p. 140,) from which the warrant 
of queen Elizabeth is in great measure copied; and that the same 
system was continued in the reign of Elizabeth, not because it was 
congenial with the spirit of protestantism, but because the temper of 

30 the times had been trained and hardened in the school of popery. 
Comp. Neal, Purit. vol. i. p. 89. Burnet, H. R. voL ii. p. 773. Collier^ 
vol. ii. p. 420. 



224 The queen's warrant Jbr the [XL V ». 

chamberlain and Ambrose Cave, knights, and to our 
trusty and well-beloved Anthony Cook, and Thomas 
Smith, knights, Wm. Bill our almoner, Walter Haddon 
and Thomas Sackford, masters of our requests, Rowland 
Hill, and Wm. Chester, knights, Bandol Cholmely, and 5 
John Southcote, sergeants at the law, Wm. May, doctor 
of law, Francis Cave, Richard Goodrick and Gilbert 
Gerrard, esqrs, Robert Weston and .... Huck, doctors 
of law, greeting. 

II. Where at our parliament holden at Westminster 10 
the 25th day of January and there continued, and kept 
until the ... of May then next following (amongst other 
things) there was two acts and statutes made and esta- 
blished, the one entitled, " An act for the imiformity of 
common prayer, and service in the church and adminis- 15 
tration of the sacraments," and the other entitled, " An 
act restoring to the crown the ancient jurisdiction of 
the state ecclesiastical and spiritual, and abolishing all 
foreign power repugnant to the same, as by the same 
several acts more at large doth appear:" and whereas ao 
diverse seditious and slanderous persons do not cease 
daily to invent and set forth false rumours, tales, and sedi- 
tious slanders, not only against us and the said good laws 
and statutes, but also have set forth diverse seditious 
books within this our realm of England, meaning thereby 15 
to move and procure strife, division, and dissention, 
amongst our loving and obedient subjects, much to the 
disquieting of us and our people. 

III. Wherefore we, earnestly minding to have the 
same acts beforementioned to be duly put in execution, 30 
and such persons as shall hereafter offend in any thing 
contrary to the tenor and effect of the said several 
statutes, to be condignly punished; and having especial 
trust and confidence in your wisdoms and discretions, 
have authorized, assigned, and appointed you to be our 35 
commissioners, and by these presents do give our full 



^559'] ^^^ co>mmis8um in eauMi eoderiastiocd, tSS 

power and authority to you, or six of you, whereof you 
the said Mathew Parker, Edmund Grindall, Thomas 
Smith, Walter Haddon, Thomas Saokford, Richard 
Goodrick and Gilbert Gerrard, to be one, from time to 
5 time hereafter, during our pledtore, to inquire as well by 
the oaths of twelve good and lawful men, as also by wit* 
nesses and other ways and means ye can deyise, for all 
offences, misdoers and misdemeanours, done and com- 
mitted, and hereafter to be committed or done contrary 
lo to the tenour of the said several acts and statutes^ and 
either of them ; and also of all and singular heretical 
opinions, seditious books, contempts, conspiracies, fidse 
rumours, tales, seditious misbehaviours, slanderous words, 
or showings, published, invented or set forth by any per- 
1 5 son or persons, against us, or contrary, or against any the 
laws or statutes of this our realm, or against the quiet 
government and rule of our people and subjects, in any 
county, city, borough, or other place or places, within 
this our realm of England, and of all and every the 
10 coadjutors, counsellors, comforters, procurers and abettors 
of every such offender. 

IV. And further, we do give power and authority to 

you, or six of you, whereof the said Mathew Pftrker, 

Edmund Grindall, Thomas Smith, Walter Haddon, 

25 Thomas Sackfordj Richard Goodrick, or Gilbert Gerrard» 

to be one, from time to time hereafter, during our plea* 

sure, as well to hear and detennine all the premises, as 

also to inquire, hear, and determine all and singular 

enormities, disturbances and misbehaviour, done and com- 

30 mitted/ or hereafter to be done and committed, in any 

church or chapel, or against any divine service, or the 

minister or ministers of the same; contrary to the law and 

statutes of this realm: and also to inquire of, search 

out, and to order, correct and reform all such person^ at 

35 hereafter shall or will obstinately abaent themselves fimm 

VOL. I. Q 



286 The queevCs warrant for the [XL V •• 

church, and such divine service, as by the laws and sta- 
tutes of this realm is appointed to be had and used. 

V. And also we do give and grant full power and au- 
thority unto you, and six of you, whereof you the said 
Mathew Parker, Edmund Grindall, Thomas Smith, Wal- s 
ter Haddon, Thomas Sackford, Richard Goodrick, or 
Gilbert Gerrard to be one, from time to time, and at all 
times during our pleasure, to visit, reform, redress, order, 
correct and amend, in all places within this our realm of 
England, all such errors, heresies, crimes, abuses, offences, lo 
contempts and enormities, spiritual and ecclesiastical 
wheresoever, which by any spiritual or ecclesiastical 
power, authority, or jurisdiction, can or may lawfully be 
reformed, ordered, redressed, corrected, restrained, or 
amended, to the pleasure of Almighty God, the increase 15 
of virtue, and the conservation of the peace and unity of 
this our realm, and according to the authority and power 
limited, given and appointed by any laws or statutes of 
this realm. 

VI. And also, that you, and six of you, whereof the «o 
said Mathew Parker, Edmund Grindall, Thomas Smith, 
Walter Haddon, Thomas Sackford, Richard Goodrick, or 
Gilbert Gerrard to be one, shall likewise have full power 
and authority, from time to time to inquire and search 
out .... men quarrellers, vagrant, and suspect persons as 
within our city of London, and ten miles compass about 
the same city, and of all assaults and affrays done and 
committed within the same city and compass aforesaid. 

VII. And also we give full power and authority unto 
you, and six of yoii, as before, summarily to hear and 30 
finally to determine, according to your discretions, and 
by the laws of this realm, all causes and complaints of all 
them, which in respect of religion, or for lawful matri- 
mony contracted and allowed by the same, were inju- 
riously deprived, defrauded, or spoiled of their lands, 35 



^559*] ^W^ commission in causes eeclesiasHcal. SS7 

goods, possessions, rights, dignities, livings, offices, spi- 
ritual or temporal ; and them so deprived, as before, to 
restore into their said livings, and to put them in pos- 
session, amoving the usurpers in convenient speed, as it 
5 shall seem to your discretions good, by your letters 
missive, or otherwise ; all frustratoiy appeUations cleariy 
rejected. 

VIII. And further, we do give unto you, and six of 
you, whereof you the said Mathew Parker, Edmund 

10 Grindall, Thomas Smith, Walter Haddon, Thomas Sack- 
ford, Richard Goodrick, or Gilbert Gerrard to be one, by 
virtue hereof full power and authority, not only to hear 
and determine the same and all other offences, and mat- 
ters beforementioned and rehearsed, but also all other 

15 notorious, and manifest advoutries, fornications, and eccle- 
siastical crimes and offences, vnthin this our realm, ac- 
cording to your wisdoms, consciences, and discretions; 
willing and commanding you, or rix of you, whereof you 
the said Mathew Parker, Edmund Grindall, Thomas 

10 Smith, Walter Haddon, Thomas Sackford, Richard Good- 
rick, or Gilbert Gerrard to be one, from time to time, 
hereafter to use, and devise all such politic ways and 
means for the trial and searching out of all the premises, 
as by you or six of you, as aforesaid, shall be thought 

25 most expedient and necessary. 

IX. And upon due proof had, and the oflfence, or 
offences before specified, or any of them, sufficiently 
proved against any person or persons, as by you or six of 
you, by confession of the party, or by lawful witnesses, or 

30 by any due mean, before you or six of you, whereof the 
said Mathew Parker, Edmund Grindall, Thomas Smith, 
Walter Haddon, Thomas Sackford, Richard Groodrick, or 
Gilbert Gerrard, to be one, that then you, or six of you, 
as aforesaid, shall have full power and authority to award 

35 such punishment to every offender by fine, imprisonment, 
or otherwise, by all or any of the ways aforesaid, and to 



228 The queen's warravU far the [XL V*. 

take such order for the redress of the same, as to your 
wisdoms and discretions, or six of you, whereof the said 
Mathew Parker, Edmund Grindall, Thomas Smith, 
Walter Haddon, Thomas Sackford, Richard Goodrick, 
or Gilbert Gerrard to be one, to call before you, or six of 5 
you, as aforesaid, from time to time, all and every of- 
fender or offenders, and such as by you, or six of you, as 
aforesaid, shall seem to be suspect persons in any of the 
premises ; and also all such witnesses, as you, or six of 
you, as aforesaid, shall think to be called before you, or lo 
six of you, BB aforesaid ; and them and every of them to 
examine upon their corporal oath, for the better trial and 
opening of the premises, or any part thereof. 

X. And if you, or six of you, as aforesaid, shall find 
any person or persons, obstinate or disobedient, either in 15 
their appearance before you, or six of you, as aforesaid, at 
your calling and commandment, or else not accomplish- 
ing, or not obeying your order, decrees, and command- 
ments in any thing touching the premises, or any part 
thereof; that then you, or six of you, as aforesaid, shall «o 
have fiill power and authority to commit the same per- 
son or persons so offending to ward; there to remain 
until he or they shall be by you, or six of you, as afore- 
said, enlarged and delivered* 

XI. And further we do give unto you, and six of you, n 
whereof the said Mathew Parker, Edmund Grindall, 
Thomas Smith, Walter Haddon, Thomas Sackford, 
Richard Goodrick, or Gilbert Gerrard, to be one, full 
power and authority by these presents, to take and re- 
ceive by your discretions of every offender or suspect 30 
person, to be convented or brought before you, a recog- 
nizance, or recognizances, obligation or obligations to our 
use, in such sum or sums of money, as to you, or mx of 
you, as aforesaid, shall seem convenient, as well for their 
personal appearance before you, or six of you, as afor&« 
said, as also for the performance and accomplishment of 



1559*] ^^^ eommmian in eames scderioftical, S29 

your orders and decrees, in case you, or six of you, as 
aforesaid, shall see it so convenient. 

XII. And further, our will and pleasure is, that you 
shall appoint our trusty and well-beloTed John Skinner 

5 to be your register of all your acts, decrees and proceed- 
ings, by yirtue of this commission, and in his default, one 
other sufficient person, and that you, or six of you, as 
aforesaid, shall give such allowance to the said register 
for his pains, and his clerks, to be levied of the fines and 

10 other profits, that shall rise by force of this commission 
and your doings in the premises, as to your discretions 
shall be thought meet. 

XIII. And further, our will and pleasure is, that you, 
or six of you, as aforesaid, shall name and appoint ond 

15 other sufficient person to gather up and receive all such 
sums of money as shall be assessed and taxed by you, oi* 
six of you, as aforesaid, fpr any fine or fines, upon any 
person or persons, for their offences : and that you, or six 
of you, as aforesaid, by bill or bills signed with your 

30 hands, shall and may assign, and appoint as well to the 
said person for his pains in recovering the said sums, as 
also to your messengers and attendants upon you for their 
travail, pains, and charges to be sustained for, or about 
the premises, or any part thereof, such sums of money 

*s for their rewards, as by you, or six of you, as aforesaid, 
shall be thought expedient: willing and commanding 
you, or six of you, as aforesaid, after the time of this our 
commission expired, to certify into our court of exchequer 
as well the name of the said receiver, as also a note of 

30 such fines as shall be set or taxed before you ; to the in- 
tent, that upon the determination of account of the said 
receiver, we be answered of that, that to us shall justly 
appertain: willing and commanding also our auditors 
and other officers, upon the sight of the said bills, signed 

35 with the hand of you, or six of you, as aforesaid, to make 

qs 



230 The queevCs warrant for the high commission. [XLV*. 

unto the said receiver due allowances according to the 
said hills upon his accounts. 

XIV. Wherefore we will and command you our com- 
missioners, with diligence to execute the premises with 
effect ; any of our laws, statutes, proclamations, or other 5 
grants, privileges, or ordinances, which be, or may seem 
to be, contrary to the premises notwithstanding. 

XV. And more we will and command all and singular 
justices of the peace, mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables, 
and other our officers, ministers, and faithful subjects, to »<> 
be aiding, helping, and assisting, and at your command- 
ment in the due execution hereof, as they tender our 
pleasure, and answer to the contrary at their utmost 
perils. 

XVI. And we will and grant, that this our letters «5 
patents shall be a sufficient warrant and discharge for you, 
and every of you against us, our heirs, and successors, 
and all and every other person or persons, whatsoever 
they be, of and for, or concerning the premises, or any 
parcel thereof, or for the execution of this our commission, a© 
or any part thereof. Witness the queen at Westminster, 
the 19th day of July, in the first year of her reign over 
England; &c. 

Per ipsam Reginam, 



^559-J -^ aleclaratum of certain artidet o/rdiffi<m. ftSl 



XL VI. 



Pap» Rom. Sede Cant. Anno Chriiti R^. AngUa 

Pauli IV. 5. vacante. >559* Elizab. i. 



A declaration of certain principal articles of religion set 
out by the order of both archbishops metropolitans^ and 
the rest of the bishops for the uniformity of doctrine^ to 
be taught and holden of all parsons, vicars and curates, 
as well in testification of their common consent in the 
said doctrine to the stopping of the mouths of them, thai 
go about to slander the ministers of the church for diver-- 
sity of judgment, as necessary for the instruction of their 
people ; to be read by the said parsons, vicars, and cu^ 
rates at their possession-making, or first entry into their 
cures, and also after that, yearly at two several times, 
that is to say, the Sunday next following Easter day, 
and St. Michael the archangel, or on some other Sunday 
within one month after those feasts, immediately after the 
gospel. 

■pORASMUCH as it appertaineth to all Christian 
men, but especially to the ministers, and the pas- 
tors of the church, being teachers and instructors of 
others, to be ready to give a reason of their faith, when 
5 they shall be thereunto required ; I, for my part, now 
appointed your parson, vicar, or curate, having before 
my eyes the fear of God, and the testimony of my con- 
science, do acknowledge for myself, and require you to 
assent to the same. 



lo A declaration] Put forth by archbishop P^ker after his dection, with 
the concurrence of other bishops, and intended to be used, ontfl articles 
of fieuth could be drawn up and enjoined by ccmvocatuyn. Strsrpe, Ann^ 
vol. i. P. I. pp. 335 — 329. Burnet, Hi R. ▼ol. ii. p. 810. 

a4 



^S A ileelaraium o/eeritUn aaiiclei afrdigum. [XLVI. 

First, That there is but one living and true God, of 
infinite power, wisdom, and goodness, the Maker and Pre- 
server of all things ; and that in unity of this Godhead 
there be three Persons, of one substance, of equal power 
and eternity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. 5 

II. I believe also, whatsoever is contained in the holy 
canonical scriptures, in the which scriptures are contained 
all things necessary to salvation, by the which also all 
errors and heresies may sufficiently be reproved and con- 
victed, and all doctrine and articles necessary to salvation 10 
established. I do also most firmly believe and confess 
all the articles contained in the three Creeds, the Nicene 
Creed, Athanasius' Creed, and our common Creed called 
the Apostles' Creed ; for these do briefly contain the prin- 
cipal articles of our faith, which are at large set forth in *5 
the holy scriptures. 

III. I do acknowledge also that church to be the 
spouse of Christ, wherein the word of God is truly taught, 
the sacraments orderly ministered according to Christ's 
institution, and the authority of the keys duly used ; and '© 
that every such particular church hath authority to insti- 
tute, to change, clean to put away ceremonies, and other 
ecclesiastical rites, as they be superfluous, or be abused, 
and to constitute other making more to seemliness, to 
order, or edification. «5 

IV. Moreover I confess, that it is not lawful for any 
man to take upon him any office or ministry, either eccle- 
siastical or secular, but such only as are lawfully there- 
unto called by their high authorities, according to the 
ordinances of this realm. 30 

V. Furthermore I do acknowledge the queen's ma- 
jesty's prerogative and superiority of government of all 
estates, and in all causes, as well ecclesiastical as tem- 
poral, within this realm, and other her dominions and 
countries, to be agreeable to God's word, and of right to 35 
appertain to her highness, in such sort, as is in the late 



1559'] A dedaraiitm of eeriam afiichf i^ rd^ 9S8 

act of parliament expressed, and sithenoe by her majesty's 
ii^junctions declared and expomided. 

VI. Moreover, touching the bishop of Rome, I do 
acknowledge and confess, that by the scriptures and word 

5 of God he hath no more authority than other bishops 
have in their provinces and dioceses ; and therefore the 
power, which he now challengeth, that is, to be the su- 
preme head of the universal church of Christ, and to be 
above all emperors, kings, and princes, is an usurped power, 

lo contrary to the scriptures and word of God, and contrary 
to the example of the primitive church, and therefore 
is for most just causes taken away and abolished in this 
realm. 

VII. Furthermore I do grant and confess, that the 
■5 book of common prayer and administration of the holy 

sacraments, set forth by the authority of parliam^it, is 
agreeable to the scriptures, and that it is catholic, tpo^ 
stolic, and most for the advancing of Grod's glory, and the 
edifying of God's people, both for that it is in a tonguie, 
2o that may be understood of the people, and also for the 
doctrine and form of ministration contained in the same. 

VIII. And although in the administration of baptism 
there is neither exorcism, oil, salt, spittle, or hallowing of 
the water now used, and for that they were of late years 

25 abused and esteemed necessary, where they pertain not 
to the substance and necessity of the sacrament, that they 
be reasonably abolished, and yet the sacrament ftiU and 
perfectly ministered to all intents and purposes, agreeaUe 
to the institution of our Saviour Christ. 

30 IX. Moreover, I do not only acknowledge, that private 
masses were never used amongst the fiithers of the pri- 
mitive church, I mean, public ministration and receiving 
of the sacrament by the priest alone, without a just num- 
ber of communicants, according to Christ's saying; ^ Tdke 

35 ye and eat ye," etc. but idso, that the doctrine, that main- 
toineth the mass to be a propitiatory saerifiee for the 



234 A declaration of certain articles o/reliffian>. [XLVI. 

quick and dead, and a mean to deliver souls out of pur- 
gatory, is neither agreeable to Christ's ordinance, nor 
grounded upon doctrine apostolic, but contrarywise most 
ungodly and most injurious to the precious redemption of 
our Saviour Christ, and his only sufficient sacrifice offered 5 
once for ever upon the altar of the cross. 

X. I am of that mind also, that the holy communion 
or sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, for the due 
obedience to Christ's institution, and to express the virtue 
of the same, ought to be ministered unto the people to 
under both kinds ; and that it is avouched by certain fa- 
thers of the church to be a plain sacrilege, to rob them of 
the mystical cup, for whom Christ hath shed his most pre- 
cious blood, seeing he himself hath said, " Drink ye all of 
this :" considering also, that in the time of the ancient 15 
doctors of the church, as Cyprian, Hierom, Augustine, 
Gelasius, and others six hundred years after Christ and 
more, both the parts of the sacrament were ministered to 
the people. 

Last of all, as I do utterly disallow the extolling of «o 
images, relics, and feigned miracles, and also all kind 
of expressing God invisible in the form of an old man, or 
the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove, and all other vain 
worshipping of God, devised by man's fantasies, besides 
or contrary to the scriptures, as wandering on pilgrimages, 35 
setting up of candles, praying upon beads, and such like 
superstition; which kind of works have no promise of 
reward in scripture, but contrarywise threatenings and 
maledictions ; so I do exhort all men to the obedience of 
God's law, and to the works of faith, as charity, mercy, 50 
pity, alms, devout and frequent prayer with the affection 
of the heart, and not with the mouth only, godly absti- 
nence and fasting, charity, obedience to the rulers, and 
superior powers, with such like works and godliness of 
life commanded by God in his word, which, as St» Paul 31 
saith, '^ Hath promises both of this life and of the 



1559*] Address against the use of images. StSS 

life to come," and are works only acceptable in God*8 
sight. 

These things above rehearsed, though they be appointed 
by common order, yet I do without all compulsion, with 

5 freedom of mind, and conscience, from the bottom of my 
heart, and upon most sure persuasion, acknowledge to be 
true and agreeable to Grod's word ; and therefore I exhort 
you all, of whom I have cure, heartily and obediently to 
embrace and receive the same, that we all joining toge- 

lother in unity of spirit, faith and charity, may also at 
length be joined together in the kingdom of God, and 
that through the merits and death of our Saviour Jesus 
Christ, to whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, 
be all glory and empire now and for ever. Amen. 



XLVII. 

PaptB Rom. Sede Cant. Anno Chriiti Reg. Anglui 

Pauli IV. 5. vacante. I5S9« Elizab. i. 

An address made by some bishops and divines to queen 
Elizabeth against the use of images. Strype's Ann. Bef. 
vol. i. fol. 221, 222. 

To the queevCs most excellent majesty. 

'^ \XrE^ knowing your gracious clemency, and considering 
the necessity of the matter, that we have to move, 

An address made] This address is supposed by bishop Bomet to have 
been presented to the queen before she issued her injunctions, and to 
have contributed to the right sentiments expressed in them respecting 

20 images. Strype, however, and others consider it to be of later date. 
(Parker, vol. i. p. 193. Collier, vol. ii. p. 465.) But she was known 
still to be favourable to the use of crosses and crucifixes, and they coh- 
tinued to be exhibited not merely in her own chapel, but also in many 
of the churches. Bishop Cox in writing to P. Martjrr in August i559> 

25 says, " excepto quod crucis crucifixique imaginem in tempHs tolerare 



236 Addms to quem Mzabeti [XLVII. 

the one doth encourage us, the other compel us (as 
before) to make our humble petition unto your highness, 
and to renew our former suit, not in any respect of self- 
will, stoutness, or striving against your majesty, (God we 
take to witness,) for with David we confess, that we are 5 
but as ^^ canes mortui aut pulices" in comparison, but we 
do it only for that fear and reverence, which we bear to 
the majesty of Almighty God, in whose hands to &11 it is 
terrible; for it lieth in his power to destroy for ever, 
and to cast both body and soul into hell fire ; and lest in 10 
giving such offence to the little ones, in setting a trap of 
errors for the ignorant, and digging a pit for the blind to 
fidl into, we should not only be guilty of the blood of our 
brethren, and deserve the wrathful " Vsb" and vengeance 
of God, but also procure to our reclaiming consciences 15 

cogantur, omnia religionis capita^ quae Edvardi tempore, tenent." 
(Hess, Cat. vol. ii. p. 122.) Sampson to the same in the following 
January, asks, " si princeps ita injungat omnibus episcopis et pastonbus 
ut vel admittant in suas ecclesias imaginem cum candelis, vel nuniaterio 
verbi cedant, quid hie faciendum sit?" (Hess, Cat. vol. ii. p. 131. 20 
Burnet, H. R. voL iii. P. 2. p. 397.) And bishop Jewel in February 
1560, says to liie same, " Nunc ardet lis ilia crucularia....Ik) enim jam 
res perv^t ut aut cruces argentece et stannese, quas nos ubique con- 
fregimus, restituendse sunt, aut episcopatus reliquendi." (Hess, Cat. 
vol. ii. p. 133, Burnet, H. R. vol. iii. P. 3. p. 390.) It appears from 25 
the same letter that a di^utation was to be held on the subject, and 
that Parker and Cox had undertaken to defend the use of crosses 
against Grindal and Jewel, who were most earnest in opposing them. 
That Cox's sentiments iiad so far undergone a diange, is evident firom 
the letter written by him in the month of March to Cassander, and from 30 
the answer that Cassander gave, clearly signifying his approbation of 
the practice. (Hess, Cat. vol. ii. p. 135. Cassandri Opera, p. mo.) 
The question however was soon afterwards set at rest by the oon^lete 
removal of crosses : as appears from a letter written by biriiop Sandys 
to P. Martyr cm the first of April 1560. Hess, Cat. vol. iL p. 137. 35 
Burnet, H. R. vol. iii. P. 2. p. 393. Comp. another letter from Cox to 
the queen in Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. 2. p. 500. Ann. vol. i. P. i. p. a6o. 
Parker, vol. i. p. 9a. Burnet, H. R. vol. ii. p. 794. Hallam, Const. 
Hist. vol. i. p. 186. 



1559-] against ike ub$ ofimagm. £87 

the biting worm that never dieth for our endless con- 
fusion. For in what thing soever we may serve your ex- 
cellent majesty, not offending the divine majesty of Grod, 
we shall with all humble obedience be most ready there- 

5 unto, if it be even to the loss of our Iiie» for so jQod com- 
mandeth of us, duly requireth of us» and we with all cod^ 
formity have put in proof; and as Gbd through your 
gracious government hath delivered unto us innumerable 
benefits, (which we most humbly acknowledge, and with 

lo due reverence daily give him thanks,) so we do not doubt 
but that of his mercy he will happily finish in your ma^ 
jesty that good work, which of his free favour he hath 
most graciously begun; that following the examples of 
the godly princes, which have gone before, you may 

15 clearly purge the polluted church, and remove all occa- 
sions of evil. And forsomuch as we have heretofore at 
sundry times made petition to your majesty, concerning 
the matter of images, but at no time exhibited any rea- 
sons for the removing of the same ; now lest we should 

20 seem to say much and prove little, to allege consciences 
without the warrant of God, and unreasonably require 
that, for the which we can give no reason, we have at 
this time put in writing, and do most himibly exhibit to 
your gracious consideration those authorities of the scrip* 

35 tures, reasons, and pithy persuasions, which as they have 
moved all such our brethren, as now bear the oflice of 
bishops, to think and aflirm images not expedient for the 
church of Christ, so will they not suffer us, witiioiit the 
great offending of Grod, and grievous wounding of our owft 

30 consciences (which Grod deliver us from) to consent to the 
erecting or retaining of the same in the place of worship- 
ping ; and we trust and most earnestly ask it of Qed, that 
they may also persuade your majesty, by your repX au- 
thority, and in the zeal of God, utterly to remove this 

35 offensive evil out of the church of England, to Qod*s greit 
glory, and our great comfort. 



3S8 Addrm to queen Elizabeth. [XLVII. 

The substance of their reasons is; that the second 
commandment forbids the making of any images, as a 
resemblance of God, And Deut. xxvii. there was a 
curse pronounced on those, " who made an image, an 
abomination to the Lord, and put it in a secret place :^ 5 
which they expoimded of some sacraria, in private houses. 
And Deut. iv. among the cautions Moses gives to the 
people of Israel to beware of idolatry, this is one : " That 
they do not make an image :" for the use of these do 
naturally degenerate into idolatry. The Jews were so ro 
sensible of this after the captivity, that they would die 
rather than suffer an image to be put in their temple. The 
book of Wisdom calls an image, ^^ A snare for the feet 
of the ignorant." St. John charged those he writ to, 
" To beware of idols :" so Tertullian said : " It was not 15 
enough to beware of idolatry towards them, but of the 
very images themselves." And as Moses had chaiged 
the people not to lay a stumblingblock in the way of 
the blind, so it was a much greater sin to leave such a 
trap for the weak multitude. This was not for edifica- «o 
tion ; since it fed the superstition of the weak and igno- 
rant, who would continue in their former dotage upon 
them, and would alienate others from the public worship ; 
so that between those, that would separate from them, 
if they were continued, and the multitude, that would «5 
abuse them, the number of those that would use them 
aright would be very inconsiderable. The outward 
splendour of them would be apt to draw the minds of 
the worshippers, if not to direct idolatry, yet to staring, 
and distraction of thoughts. Both Origen and Amobius $0 
tell us, that the primitive Christians had no images at 
all. Irenaeus accused the Gnostics for carrying about 
the image of Christ. St. Austin commends Varro for 
saying, that the old Romans worshipped God more 
chastely, without the use of any images. Epiphaniusas 
tore a veil with an image on it, and Serenus broke 



1559*] €igain8t the use o/inutgee. • S89 

images in Gregory the Great's time, Valens and Theodo- 
sius made a law against the painting or graving of the 
image of Christ : and the use of images in the Eastern 
churches brought those distractions on that empire, that 

5 laid it open to the invasions of the Mahometans. 

Having thus declared to your highness a few causes of 
many, which do move our consciences in this matter, we 
beseech your highness most humbly, not to strain us any 
further ; but to consider, that God's word doth threaten 

lo a terrible judgment imto us, if we, being pastors, and 
ministers in his church, should assent unto the thing, 
which in our learning and conscience we are persuaded 
doth tend to the confirmation of errors, superstition, and 
idolatry, and finally, to the ruins of the souls committed 

15 to our charge, for the which we must give an account 
to the prince of pastors at the last day. We pray your 
majesty also not to be offended with this our plainneee, 
and liberty, which all good and Christian princes have 
ever taken in good part at the hands of godly bishops. 

^o 8t. Ambrose, writing to Theodosius the emperor, useth 
these words : ^^ Sed neque imperiale est libertatem di- 
cendi negare, neque sacerdotale, quod sentiant, non 
dicere. 

And again : ^' In causa vero Dei, quem audies, si 

^5 sacerdotem non audies, cujus majori peccatur periculo, 
quis tibi verum audebit dicere, si sacerdos non audeat ?" 

These, and such like speeches of St. Ambrose, Theodo- 
sius and Valentinianus the emperors did take in good 
part ; and we doubt not, but your grace will do the like, 

30 of whose not only clemency, but also beneficence we 
have largely tasted. 

We beseech your majesty also in these, and such like 
controversies of religion, to refer the discussment, and 
deciding of them to a synod of the bishops, and other 

35 godly learned men, according to the example of Con- 
stantinus Magnus, and other Christian emperors; that 



S40 Cammissicn cihwA imjmgmate tithes, [XLVIII. 

the reasons of both parties being examined by thetii, 
the judgment may be given uprightly in all doubtfiil 
matters. 

And to return to this present matter, we most humUy 
beseech your majesty to consider, that besides weighty i 
causes in policy, which we leave to the wisdom of the 
honourable councillors, the establishing of images by your 
authority, shall not only utterly discredit our ministries^ as 
builders of the thing, which we have destroyed ; but also 
blemish the &me of your most godly brother, and such lo 
notable Others, as have given their lives for the testi* 
mony of God's truth, who by public law removed all 
images. 

The almighty and everlasting God plentifully endue 
your majesty with his Spirit, and heavenly wisdom, and 15 
long preserve your most gracious reign, and prosperous 
government over us, to the advancement of his glory, to 
the overthrow of superstition, and to the benefit and 
comfort of all your highnesses loving subjects. Amen. 



XLVIII. 

Sede Rom. Sade Cant. Anno Chriiti Reg. AngliaB 

vacante. vacante. i559* Elizab. i. 

A commission from the queen to my lard treasurer^ sir 
Richard SacJcvile, sir Walter Mildmay^ and Mr. Kette^ 
way^ September 18, concerning the exchange of impro^ 
priate tithes for bishops^ lands. 

TDIGHT trusty and right well beloved cousin, and^ 
trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. And 

A conmUsaion] " Tke queen now (chiefly to gratify some of her 
courtiers) made exchanges with her hishops, hy the authority of a late 
act of parliament; taking to herself their ancient good manors and 
lordships, and middng over to them in exdmnge tij^hes and impro- 9$ 



^559'] Commismn ahwA impropriaU Hikes, S41 

whereas by one act passed in our late parliament, it was, 
among other things, granted imto us, that upon the 
vacation of every archbishopric or bishopric within this 
our realm of England, it should be lawful for us to take 
5 into our hands and possessions as much and so many of 
any the honours, castles, manors, lands, and tenements^ 
and other hereditaments, being parcel of the possessions 
of any such archbishopric or bishopric, so being void, as 
the clear yearly value of all our parsonages impropriate, 

loand yearly tenths within every such archbishopric or 
bishopric should yearly amount unto : and for the trial 
of the very value of such honours, castles, manors, lands, 
tenements, and hereditaments, it should be lawful for us 
to appoint commissioners to survey the same from time 

15 to time ; and thereupon to certify the very clear yearly 
value thereof, over all charges, into our court of ex- 
chequer, by such time as shall be to the said commis- 
sioners appointed, with such further matter, as in the 
said act thereof made, more fully is contained: foras- 

20 much as we have si thence, according to the said act, 
addressed forth sundry our commissions for the survey of 
the lands, tenements, and other hereditaments of certain 
archbishoprics and bishoprics presently vacant, the certi- 
ficates of which commissions be in part already returned 

35 unto our said court of exchequer, and the rest looked for 
daily ; we let you wete, that for the proceeding to the 
end in the said matters, according to the meaning of the 

priations. A matter those first bishops took very heavily ; and 
scrupled very much whether they could or should comply in a thing 

30 so much to the injury of the revenue of their respectiye sees, which 
must suffer considerably by these exchanges; and whereby all hope 
should be cut off of restoring the tithes, so long unjustly detained 
from the respective churches, for the maintenance of the incumbents.*' 
Strype, Grindal, p. 42, where is also an account of the correspondence 

35 between Grindal and P. Martyr on the subject. Comp. Parker, vol. i. 
p. 88. Collier, vol. ii. p. 437. 

VOL. I. R 



S42 Breve region pro comeercUiane [XLIX. 



act, knowing your approved wisdoms, diligencoSi and 
dexterities in such causes, we have, and by these pre- 
sents do authorize you four, three, or two of you, to con- 
sider diligently as well the certificates of such lands of 
archbishoprics or bishoprics, as be already retiurned, as 5 
also such other certificates of the like lands, as shall 
hereafter be returned, and certified unto our said court 
of exchequer; and further likewise to consider, what 
parcels of the said lands, tenements, and hereditamenta 
shall be meetest for us to take into our hands and poa- lo 
session, and what impropriations or yearly tenths we 
shall, in recompense of the said lands, depart withal 
again, with such further matter in and about the pre- 
mises, as your wisdoms shall think meet for our know- 
ledge ; willing and requiring you, after the deliberation 15 
and advised consideration of the premises, to certify unto 
us your opinion in writing, what you think most meet 
for us to do in the cases aforesaid, to the intent we may 
resolve our determinate pleasure, touching the same, as 
shall be then thought good by us. And hereof fistil you so 
not, as we specially trust you : and these our letters shall 
be your sufficient warrant, and discharge in this behaUT. 
Yeven, etc. 

XLIX. 

Sede Rom. Sede Cant. Anno Christi R^. Aiigli» 

vacanta. vacante. 1559. EUBAM. %• 

Breve regium pro consecratione archiepiscopi Parker. 
Ex Registr. Parker, tom. i. fol. 3. Vid. Mason of 
Consecration, etc. f. 126. 

"Tp LIZABETHA, Dei gratia, etc. reverendis in Christo 
"^ patribus Anthonio, Landaven. episcopo, WiU. Baiwts 

Breve regnm] This is the second of the two warrants ismad m 4ia 
matter, and the one which was actually employed for the 



^559'] MaMkm Po/thtt^ areJUqri§e. Ocmhtar. C43 

low, quondam Bath, et Well, episcopo, nunc Cioestrenfii 
electo, Johanni Scory, quondam Cieestrenai episcopo, 
nunc electo Hereford. Miloni Cioverdalio, quondam Exo- 
niensi episcopo, Johanni sufflraganeo Bedford, Johanni 

5 suffiraganeo Thetford, Johanni Bale, Ossorensi epLseopo. 

Quatenus vog, aut ad minus quatuor yestrum eundem 

Matthaeum Parkerum in archiepiscopum, et paatorem 

ecclesiae cathedralis, et metropoliticae Christi Cant, pne- 

dictse, sicut praefertur, electum, electionemque praediotam 

lo confirmare, et eundem magistrum Matthseum Parkerum 
in archiepiscopum, et pastorem ecclesiae praedictae conse- 
crare, caeteraque omnia et singula peragere, quae yestro in 
hac parte incumbunt pastorali officio, juxta formam sta- 
tutorum in ea parte editorum et proyisorum, yelitis 

15 cum effectu, etc. Dat. sexto Decembris, anno secundo 
Elizabethae. 

Rituum et ceremoniarum ordo in consecratione reveren^ 
dissimi domini Matthai Parker, archiepiscopi Cant, in 
capeUa infra nuanerium suum de Lambhith, die domi- 
nico, viz. decimo searto mensis Decembris, anno Domini 

MDLIX. 

T>RINCIPIO sacellum tapetibus ad orientem adonuu 
batur ; solum yero panno rubro instemebatur ; mensa 
quoque sacris peragendis necessaria, tapeto pulyinarique 
35 omata, ad orientem sita erat. 



of archbishop Parker. " The first took not place, whatever the reason 
was : whether it were that some of the hishops (named therein), being 
papists, refused to act in this bnsinesB ; or becaaae of the omiiaum cf 
a clause, viz. ' vos ant ad minns qnatnor yestrom,' aa it ran in tha 
30 queen's second letters patent, which were executed and bore date at 
Westminster, the 6th day of December." Strype, IVurker, vol. i. p. 107, 
The former warrant bore date at Redgrave, tlia 9th of September, 
Comp. Ann. vol. i. P. i. p. 231. BoiTiet, H. R. vol. ii. p. 805. Arch- 
bishop Bramhal, Works, p. 988 ; and Browae ott The OrdiiiatkMi, Ac. 

R S 



244 Breve regiwrnpro consecraUone [XLIX. 

Quatuor praeterea cathedrae quatuor episcopis, quibus 
munus consecrandi archiepiscopi delegabatur, ad austrum 
orientalis sacelli partis erant positse ; scamnum praeterea 
tapeto pulvinaribusque instratmn, cui episcopi genibus 
flexis inniterentur, ante cathedras ponebatur. 5 

Pari quoque modo cathedra, scamnumque tapeto pul- 
vinarique omatum, archiepiscopo ad borealem orientalis 
ejusdem sacelli partis plagam posita erant. 

Hiis rebus ita ordine suo instructis, mane circiter 
quintam, aut sextam, per occidentalem portam ingredi- 10 
tur sacellum archiepiscopus toga talari coccinea, capu- 
tioque indutus, quatuor praecedentibus funalibus, et qua- 
tuor comitatus episcopis, qui ejus consecration! inservi- 
rent ; videlicet, Willielmo Barlow, olim Bathon. et 
Wellen. episcopo, nunc vero ad Cicestrensem episcopa- 15 
turn electo, Johanne Scory, olim Cicestrensi episcopo, et 
nunc ad Herefordensem vocato, Milone Coverdale, olim 
Exon. episcopo, et Johanne Hodgskinne, Bedfordiae suf- 
fraganeo. Qui omnes postquam sedes sibi paratas ordine 
singuli suo occupassent, preces continuo matutinae per«o 
Andream Pierson, archiepiscopi capellanum, clara voce 
recitabantur. Quibus peractis, Johannes Scory, de quo 
supra diximus, suggestum conscendit, atque inde as- 
sumpto sibi in thema : " Seniores ergo, qui in vobis 
sunt, obsecro, consenior," etc. non ineleganter conciona- n 
batur. 

Finita concione, egrediuntur simul archiepiscopus, reli- 
quique quatuor episcopi sacellum, se ad sacram commu- 
nionem paraturi, neque mora confestim per borealem 
portam in vestiarium, ad hunc modum vestiti, redeunt. 3© 
Archiepiscopus nimirum linteo superpellicio (quod vo- 
cant) induebatur ; Cicestrens. electus capa serica ad sacra 
peragenda paratus utebatur : cui ministrabant, operamque 
suam praebebant, duo archiepiscopi capellani; videlicet, 
Nicolaus Bullingham, Lincoln, archidiaconus, et Ed-55 
mundus Geste, Cantuariensis quoque archidiaconus, capis 



J^ 559*1 MaMhm Parker^ atchiepisc, Oawtuar. 245 

sericis similiter vestiti. Hereford, electus, et Bedfordiae 
suffrag. linteis superpelliceis induebantur. Milo vero 
Coverdallus non nisi toga lanea talari utebatur. Atque 
hunc in modum vestiti, et instructi, ad communionem 

5 celebrandam perrexerunt ; archiepiscopo genibus flexis ad 
infimum sacelli gradum sedente. 

Finite tandem evangelio, Hereforden* electus, Bed- 
ford iae suifraganeus, et Milo Coverdale (de quibus supra) 
arehiepiscopum coram Cicestrensi electo apud mensam 

lo in cathedra sedenti, his verbis adduxerunt : " Reverende 
in Deo pater, hunc virum pium pariter atque doctum tibi 
oiferimus, atque praesentamus, ut archiepiscopus conse- 
cretur." Postquam haec dixissent, proferebatur illico re- 
ginae diploma, sive mandatum pro consecratione archi- 

15 episcopi. Quo per reverendum Thomam Yale, legum 
doctorem, perlecto, sacramentum de regio primatu, sive 
suprema ejus auctoritate tuenda, juxta statuta prime 
anno regni serenissimae reginae nostras Elizabethan pro- 
mulgata, ab eodem archiepiscopo exigebatur: quod cum 

ao ille solenniter, tactis corporaliter sacris evangeliis» CQn-> 
ceptis verbis praestitisset, Cicestren. electus quaedam prae- 
fatus, atque populum ad orationem hortatus, ad letanias 
decantandas, chore respondente, se accinxit. Quibus 
finitis, post quaestiones aliquot archiepiscopo per Cice- 

^5 stren. electum propositas, et post orationes et suffiugia 
quaedam juxta formam libri auctoritate parliamenti editi, 
apud Deum habita, Cicestrensis, Herefordensis, su£&a- 
ganeus Bedfordiensis, et Milo Coverdallus manibus archi- 
episcopo impositis : " Accipe, inquiunt, Spiiitum Sanctum, 

30 et gratiam Dei, qude jam per impositionem manuum in 
te est, excitare memento : non enim timoris, sed virtutis, 
dilectionis, et sobrietatis spiritum dedit nobis Deus,^ 
His ita dictis, Biblia sacra illi in manibus tradidemnt^ 
hujusmodi apud eum verba habentes : " In legendo, hor- 

35 tando, et docendo, vide diligens sis, atque ea meditare 
assidue, quae in hisce libris scripta sunt. Noli in his 

R 3 



S46 CoMeeratio mrehiepiseopi Parker. [XLIX. 

segnis esse, quo incrementum inde proveniens omnibus 
innotescat, et palam fiat. Cura, quae ad te et ad doeendi 
munus spectant diligenter. Hoc enim modo noa teip- 
sum solum, sed et reUquos auditores tuos per Jesom 
Christum Dominum nostrum salyabis." Postquam haee 5 
dixissent, ad reliqua communionis solennia pergit Cice- 
stren. nullum archiepiscopo tradens pastorale baculum; 
cum quo communicabant una archiepiscopus, et illi epi- 
scopi supra nominati, cum aliis etiam nonnullis. 

Finitis tandem peractisque sacris, egreditur per bore- lo 
alem orientalis sacelli partis portam archiepiscopus, qua- 
tuor illis comitatus episcopis, qui eum consecraverant, et 
eonfestim eisdem ipsis stipatus episcopis, per eandem re« 
yertitur portam, albo episcopali superpelliceo, chimeraque 
(ut Tocant) ex nigro serico indutus, circa coUum Yero is 
coUare quoddam ex preciosis pellibus sabellinis (vulgo 
^' Sables" vocant) consutimi gestabat. Pari quoque modo 
Cicestrensis, et Herefordensis suis episcopalibus amicti- 
bus, superpelliceo sc. et chimera uterque induebatur ; 
D. Coverdallus vero, et Bedfordiae suf&aganens, togis to 
solummodo talaribus utebantur. Pergens deinde occi- 
dentalem partem versus archiepiscopus, Thomae Doyle, 
ceconomo, Johanni Baker, thesaurario, et Johanni Marche, 
compute rotulario, singulis singulos albos dedit baculos, 
hoc scilicet modo eos muneribus, et officiis suis omans. H 
His itaque himc ad modum ordine sue, ut jam ante* 
dictum est, peractis, per occidentalem portam sacelhim 
egreditur archiepiscopus, generosioribus quibuscunque 
sanjniine ex ejus familia eum praecedentibus, reliquis 
.erTeum a tergo sequentibus. 

Acta gestaque haec erant omnia in preesentia reveren- 
dorum episcoporum Edmundi Grindall, London, episcopi 
electi, Richardi Cokes, Eliensis electi, Edwini Sandes, 
Wigomiensis electi, Anthonii Husse, armigeri principalis, 
et primarii registrarii dicti archiepiscopi, Thomse ArgaU 35 
armigeri, registrarii curiae praerogativae Cant. Thomae 



ij6o.] IM0tm r€gim9 d$ Jbrma prmim fMik^ fUH 

Willet, et Johannis Incent, notariorum publicomm, et 
aliorum quoque nonnullorum. 

Concordat cum originali in biblioth. collegii Corp. 
Christi apud Cantab, ita testor Matth. Whinn, no- 
5 tarius publicus, et acad. Cantab, registrarius prin^ 
cipalis, Jan. 8. mdclxxiv. 



L. 

Archiepiio. Oant. Anno Chrittt B/eg. Angli» 

Matth. Pa&kzr i. 1560. Elzcab. 3. 

Litera patentes retina de forma preeum puNicarum 

Latine vertenda. 

P^LIZABETH, Dei gratia Anglise, Francise, et Hiber- 
niae regina, fidei defensor, &c. omnibus^ ad quos 
praesentes literse pervenerint, salutem. Cum memores 
10 officii nostri erga Deum omnipotentem (cujus proTidentia 
principes regnant) legibus quibusdam saluberrimis, con- 
sensu trium regni nostri statuum sancitis, anno regni 
nostri prime, regium nostrum assensum libenter prae- 
buerimus; inter quas una lex lata est, ut preces pub- 
is licae, una, et eadem certa et prsescripta precandi forma» 
lingua Yulgari, et vemacula, passim in ecclesia Anglicana 
haberentur, quo subditi nostri, quid orarent, facilius in- 
telligerent, et absurdum ilium, diuque in ecclesia inve- 

Litera patentes] " Though the public prayers were by the late act 
20 of parliament (i Elliz. cap. 2.) to be said only in the vnlgar tongae, 
that all the people might understand; yet upon the petition of the 
universities of Cambridge and Oxford, and the two colleges of Win- 
chester and f^ton, that for the further improvements of their members 
in Latin they might use the same form of ' public prayer in Latin, the 
25 queen by her letters patent dated at Westminster the 6th of April, in 
the second year of her reign, granted the same." Strype, Ann. yd. i. 

P- I- P- 333- 

R 4 



24S LitercB regmoB de forma precum puiUcarum. [L. 

teratum errorem tandem devitarent: fieri enim non 
potest, ut precationes, supplicationes, aut gratiarum ac- 
tiones non intellectae, mentis ardorem aliquando excitent 
et accendant, cum spiritu, et veritate^ Deus qui spiritus 
est, non oris tantum strepitu adorari vult ; cui rei etiam 5 
addi potest, quod hac caeca ignoratione superstitiosae 
preces, aut res alienae, non satis idonese, quae Deo pro- 
funderentur, cordium humanorum scrutatori, saepenu- 
mero ore profane offerebantur: notum vobis esse vo- 
lumus, quod quoniam intelligimus collegia utriusque lo 
academiae, Cantabrigiensis et Oxoniensis, collegium item 
novum prope Wintoniam, et Etonense, bonis Uteris di- 
cata, supplicibus votis petere, ut quo sacrarum literarum 
monumenta Latina ad uberiorem theologiae fructum eis 
reddantur magis familiaria, eis liceat eadem forma pre- *5 
cum Latine uti ; omnibus reipublicae nostrae membris, 
quantum in nobis est, consulere, et cum eorum necessi- 
tati, qui Latina non intelligunt, tum eorum voluntati, 
qui utramque linguam percipiunt, consulere cupientes ; 
constituimus per praesentes, licitum esse et permissum 20 
nostra auctoritate et privilegio regali tam decano et so- 
dalitio ecclesiae Christi in academia nostra Oxoniae, quam 
prsBsidibus, custodibus, rectoribus, magistris, et sodalita- 
tibus omnium et singulorum coUegiorum Cantabrigiae, 
Oxoniae, Wintoniae, et Etoniae, hoc modo precandi La- «5 
tine uti publico in ecclesiis et sacellis suis, quem nos per 
nostrum typographum edi curavimus in hoc praesenti 
volumine, convenientem cum Anglicano nostro publica- 
rum precum libro, jam per universum nostrum reguum 
recepto et usitato. Cui item peculiaria quaedam iua© 
Christianorum funeribus et exequiis decantanda adjungi 
praecepimus ; statute illo praedicto de ritu publicarum 
precum (cujus supra raentionem fecimus) anno prime 
regni nostri promulgate, in contrarium non obstante. 
Proviso semper, quod in ejusmodi coUegiis, quibus laico- as 
rum parochiae annexae erunt, ac in reliquis etiam, ad 



1560.] Celehratio ccencB Domini infmeribw. 249 

quorum templa laici, eorundem collegiorum famuli, et 
mmistri, sive alii quicunque Latiuse linguse imperiti, ne- 
cessario adire debent; his horae aliquot opportuns, et 
loca in dictis ecclesiis, aut sacellis, assiguentur, in quibus, 

5 festis saltem diebus, preces matutinse et vespertinae le- 
gantur et recitentur, et sacramentorum administrationes 
suis temporibus Anglice ad laicorum aedificationem cele- 
brari possint. Eadem etiam formula Latina precandi 
privatim uti hortamur omnes reliquos ecclesiae nostras 

o Anglicanae ministros, cujuscunque gradus fuerint, iis die- 
bus, quibus aut non solent, aut non tenentur parochianis 
suis, ad aedem sacram pro more accedentibus, publico 
preces vemacula lingua, secundum formam dicti statuti, 
recitare. In praemissorum autem fidem et testimonium 

> 5 has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Dat. apud pa- 
latium nostrum de Westmonasterio sexto die Aprilis, 
anno regni nostri secundo. 



LI. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christ! fLeg, AngliaB 

Matth. Parker i. 1560. Elizab. 2. 

Celebratio coeiia: Doniini in funeribtiSy si amid et vicini 
defuncti communicare velinty Sfc. anno 2. Elizabeths 
regince mdlx. 

In commendatianibtis benefactorum. 

A D cujusque termini finem conmiendatio fiat funda- 
20 toris, aliorumque clarorum virorum, quorum bene- 

ficentia collegium locupletatur. 

Celebratio ccnue] " To this edition of the Latin prayers [published 
in conformity with the preceding letters patent. No. L.] the queen also 
appointed to be joined certain peculiar forms in Latin, to be used at 
25 the funerals and exequies of Christians ded^ased, when the friends and 
neighbours were minded to celebrate the Lord's supper ; a custom then, 
but now wholly disused." Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. 1 . p. 334; 



S50 Odebraiio ecena Domini i»Jmmbui. [LL 

Ejus hadc sit fonna. 
Primum recitetur clara voce oratio dominica : 
Pater noster, qui es in ccelis, etc. 

Deinde recitentnr tres Psalmi. 
Exaltabo te Deus, Psalm, cxliv. 5 

Lauda anima mea Do. Psaim. cxlv. 
Laudate Dominum quoniam bonus. Ptal. exivi. 

Post haec legatur cap. xliv. Ecclesiastici. 
His finitis, sequatur concio, in qua concionator ftinda- 
tons amplissimam munificentiam praedicet : quantus sit 10 
literamm usus ostendat : quantis laudibus afficimidi sunt* 
qui Iiterarom studia beneficentia sua excitent : quantum 
sit omamentum regno dfttos yiros habere, qui de rebus 
controversis vere judicare possint: quanta sit scriptura- 
rum laus, et quantum illae onmi humanae auetoritati '5 
antecedant: quanta sit ejus doctrinae in Tulgus utilitas» 
et quam late pateat : quam egregium et regium sit (cui 
Deus universse plebis suae curam commisit) de multitu- 
dine ministrorum verbi laborare, atque, hi ut honesti 
atque eruditi sint, curare : atque alia ejus generis, quae ^ 
pii et docti viri cum laude illustrare possint. 
Hac concione perorata, decantetur, 
Benedictus Dominus Israel. 

Ad extremum haec adhibeantur. 

Minister. 25 

In memoriam aetemam erit Justus. 

Responsio. 
Ab auditu malo non timebit. 

Minister. 
Justorum animae in manu Dei sunt. ^ 

Responsio. 
Nee attingit illos cruciatus. 

Oremus. 
Domine Deus, resur^ectio et vita credentium, qui sem- 
per es laudandus tam in viventibus, quam in defunctis, 35 
agimus tibi gratias pro fundatore nostro N. caetexisqua 



1560.] OMhratio eomm Domini infimmriim. £61 

benefactoribus nostris, quorum beneficiis hie ad pietatem 
et studia literanim alimur; rogantes, nt not his dcmis 
ad tuam gloriam recte utentes, una cum illis, ad resor- 
rectionis gloriam immortaJem perducamur; per Jesum 
5 Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. 

Celebratio coenee Domini in fvnebribus^ si amid et vicnU 

defuncti communicare veUnt. 

m 

CoUecta. 

Misericors Dens, Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, qui 
10 68 resurrectio et yita, in quo qui credidit, etiamsi mor- 
tuus fuerit, vivet ; et, in quo qui crediderit et yivit, noa 
morietur in aetemum ; quique nos docuisti per sanctum 
apostolum tuum Pftulum, non debere mcerere pro dor- 
mientibus in Christo, sicut ii, qui spem non habent re- 
issurrectionis; humiliter petimus, ut nos a morte peccati 
resuscites ad vitam justitise, ut cum ex hac Tita emigra- 
mus, dormiamus cum Christo, quemadmodum speramus 
himc fratrem nostrum ; et in general] resurrectione, ex- 
treme die, nos una cum hoc fiatre nostro resuscitati, et^ 
20 receptis corporibus, reguemus una tecum in Tita setema ; 
per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum. Amen. 

Epistola. 1 Thess. iv. 

Nolo Tos ignorare fratres de his, qui obdormiemnt^ ne 
doleatis, quemadmodum et cseteri non habentes spem. 

25 Nam si credimus, quod Jesus mortuus est et resurrexit^ 
sic et Deus eos, qui obdormierunt, per Jesum, adducet 
cum illo. Hoc enim vobis dicimus in verbo Domini, 
quod nos, qui vivimus, et reliqui erimus in adventum 
Domini, nequaquam praeyeniemus eos, qui dormiunt. 

30 Quoniam ipse Dominus cum hortatu et Toce archangeli, 
ac tuba Dei descendet de coelo, et mortui in Chiisto 
resurgent primimi ; deinde nos, qui Tivemus, qui reliqui 
erimus, simul cimi illis rapiemur in nubibus in occursum 



S52 Cdebratio ccenoB Domini inftmeribm. [LI. 

Domini in aere, et sic semper cum Domino erimus. Pro- 
inde consolemini vos mutuo sermonibus his. 

Evangelium Johan. vi. 

Dixit Jesus discipulis suis et turbis Judaeorum : Omne 
quod dat mihi Pater, ad me veniet ; et eum, qui venit 5 
ad me, non ejicio foras. Quia descendi de coelo, ut &^ 
ciam non quod ego volo, sed quod vult is, qui misit me. 
Haec est autem voluntas ejus, qui misit me, Patris ; ne 
quid perdam ex omnibus, quae dedit mihi, sed resuscitem 
ilia in novissimo die. Haec est autem voluntas ejus, qui 10 
misit me, ut omnis, qui videt filium, et credit in eum, 
habeat vitam setemam, et ego suscitabo eum novissimo 
die. 

Vel hoc evangelium. Johan. v. 

Dixit Jesus discipulis suis et turbis Judaeorum : Amen, 15 
amen dico vobis, qui sermonem meum audit, et credit ei, 
qui misit me, habet vitam aetemam, et in condemnatio- 
nem non veniet, sed transivit a morte in vitam. Amen, 
amen dico vobis, quod veniet hora et nimc est, quando 
mortui audient vocem Filii Dei, et qui audierint, vivent. 20 
Sicut enim Pater habet vitam in semetipso, sic dedit et 
Filio habere vitam in semetipso ; et potestatem dedit ei 
judicandi quoque, quia Filius hominis. Nolite mirari hoc ; 
quia veniet hora, in qua omnes, qui in monimientis sunt, 
audient vocem ejus, et prodibimt ; qui bona fecerunt, in as 
resurrectionem vitae ; qui vero mala egerunt, in resurrec- 
tionem condemnationis. 



1560.] Bfdla papas re^WB JEKzabetkcB misia. S58 



LII. 

Archiepiflc Cant. Anno Chrisd Reg. Anglin 

Matth. Parker i. 1560. Elizab. a. 

BuUa papcB Pit quarti regiruB ElizabetluB per Vincentium 
Parpaliamy abbatem S. Salvatoris missa. Ex Cambd. 
Annal. p. 72. seq. 

CharissimcB in Christo fili^e Elizabeth€B^ regitue AngluB. 

/^HARISSIMA in Christo filia nostra, salutem et apo- 
^^ stolicara benedictionem. Quantopere cupiamus, nostra 
ita pastoral! officio postulante, saluti tnae consulere, et 
5 honori tuo simul regnique stabilitati prospicere, et scru- 
tator cordium novit Deus, et ipsa intelligere poteris ex 
mandatis, quae dilecto huic filio Vincentio Parpaliae, 
abbati sancti Salvatoris, homini tibi noto, nobisque pro- 
batissimo, ad te dedimus. Proinde hortamur et mone- 

lomus celsitudinem tuam etiam atque etiam, charissima 
filia, ut, repudiatis malis suasoribus, qui non te, sed seipsos 
amant, suisque ipsorum cupiditatibus, inserviunt, Dei 
timorem in consilium adhibeas, tempusque tuae visita- 
tionis agnoscens, patemis nostris monitis salutaribusque 

15 consiliis obtemperes; omniaque de nobis tibi polliceare, 
quae non modo ad animae tuae salutem conservandam, 

Bulla papa Pit] " In the month of May this year he [pope Pius IV.] 
writeth the queen a letter dated from St. Peter's in Rome, composed in 
a gentle and loving style, which is translated into English in Camden's 

70 English History of this Queen, and also in the third part of Foxes and 
Firebrands.... The nuncio's offers from the pope were said to he these : 
to confirm the EkigUsh Liturgy ; to allow the partaking of the Sacra- 
ment in both kinds, as it was in Bohemia ; nay, and that he would dis- 
annul the sentence against the queen's mother's marriage ; in case she 

2$ would rank herself and subjects under the pope of Rome, and own that 
see. But she bravely refused, and slighted all these spedouB offers." 
Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. i. pp. 339, 340. Collier, vdi. ii. p. 474. Hallam, 
Const. Hist. vol. i. p. 123. 



254 BUkop JewMi chaUmffe. [UII. 

sed etiam ad dignitatem regiam stabiliendam et confir- 
mandam pro auctoritate, pro loco, ac munere, quod nobis 
a Deo commissum fiiit, a nobis desideraris. Qui te, si ut 
optamus, et ut speramus, in ecclesiae gremium redieris, 
eodem, quo evangelicus ille pater reversum ad se filium, 5 
amore sumus et honore ac laetitia recepturi. Quanquam 
eo major nostra Isetitia futura est, quod is unius filii 
salute gavisus est, tu tecum una universos Angliae populos 
trahens, non solum ex tua, sed ex totius nationis salute, 
nos et universitatem firatrum nostrorum, quos propediem, lo 
Deo juTante, ad toUendas ha&reses in cecumenioo gene- 
ralique concilio congregates audies, et uniyersam eocle- 
aiam laetitia gaudioque complebis. Quinetiam ccelum 
ipsum exhilarabis ex tam memorabili facto admirabilem 
nomini tuo gloriam, et multo splendidiorem ea, quam 15 
geris, coronam adeptura. Sed hac de re pluribus Terbis 
Vincentius tecum aget, et nostrum tibi patemum animnm 
declarabit; quem ut benigne excipias, diligenterque au- 
dias, eandemque ut ejus orationi fidem habeas^ quam 
haberes nobisipsis, serenitatem tuam rogamus. Datum 30 
Romae apud sanctum Petrum, etc. die quinto Maii mdlx. 
anno prime. 



I 



LIII. 

Ardiiepisc. Cant Anno Chriiti Reg. Anglis 

Matth. Paeker I. 1560. Elizab. i. 

Bishop JewelTs challenge. 

F any learned men of our adversaries, or all the learned 
men, that be alive, be able to bring any one sufficient 



Bishop JewelVs challenge] ** As bishop Jewel had preached at oourt 15 
this Lent, so he had his day at the Cross, which was the second Sunday 
before Easter. In both places he preached that famous sermon 
iidierein he openly challenged the papists. And Dr. Cole, late dean of 
St. Paul's, for saving the credit of popery, took him up. . . . But Dr. 



1560.] BMop JmedTs chaUenpe. 9BS 

sentence out of any old catholic doctor, or fikther, or 
general council, or holy scripture, or any one example in 
the primitive church, whereby it may clearly and plainly 
be proved, during the first six hundred years, I. That 

5 there was at that time any private mass in the worid. 
II. Or that there was then any communion miniBtered to 
the people under one kind. III. Or that the people had 
their common prayer in a strange tongue, that the pec^le 
understood not. IV. Or that the bishop of Rome was 

10 then called an universal bidiop, or the head of the uni- 
versal church. V. Or that the people were then taught 
to believe, that Christ's body is really, substantially, coiv 
porally, carnally, or naturally in the sacrament. VI. Or 
that his body is, or may be in a thousand places, or more 

15 at one time. VII. Or that the priest did then hold up 
the sacrament over his head. VIII. Or that the people 
did then faU down and worship it with godly honour. 
IX. Or that the sacrament was then, or now ought to be 
hanged up under a canopy. X. Or that in the sacrament, 

ao after the words of consecration, there remain only the 
accidents and shows, without the substance of bread and 
wine. XI. Or that then the priest divided the sacrament 
into three parts, and afterwards received himself all alone. 
XII. Or that whosoever had said the sacrament is a 

25 figure, a pledge, a token, or a remembrance of Christ's 
body, had therefore been judged for an heretic. XIII. Or 
that it was lawftd then to have thirty, twenty, fifteen, 

Harding of Louyain afterwards undertook the bishop's ehnlltnge more 
briskly, giving his answers as well as he could to tiie tweatf-scvea 

30 articles distinctly." Strype, Ann. vol. i. P i . p.joOf 301. Wordswortfa's 
Eccles. Biog. vol. iv. p. 42. Collier, voLii. p. 461. It would i^pear 
that this challenge was first given at Paul's Cross on the 36th of 
November 1559, when Jewel was bishop elect of Salisbury, but before 
his confirmation and consecration ; which took place in the following 

35 January. See Strype, Grindal, p. 40. Ann. voLi. P. i. p^joi . Le Neve's 
Fasti, p. 260. 



256 Bishop JetffelTs ehallenffe. [LIII. 

ten, or five masses said in the same church in one day. 
XIV. Or that images were then set up in the churches, 
to the intent the people might worship them. XV. Or 
that the lay people were then forbidden to read the word 
of God in their own tongue. XVI. Or that it was then s 
lawful for the priest to pronounce tfie words of conse- 
cration closely, or in private to himself. XVII. Or that 
the priest had then authority to offer up Christ unto his 
Father. XVIII. Or to communicate and receive the 
sacrament for another, as they do. XIX. Or to apply lo 
the virtue of Christ's death and passion to any man by 
the means of the mass. XX. Or that it was then 
thought a sound doctrine to teach the people, that mass 
" Ex opere operate** (that is, even for that it is said and 
done) is able to remove any part of our sin. XXI. Or 15 
that any Christian man called the sacrament of the Lord, 
his God. XXII. Or that the people were then taught to 
believe, that the body of Christ remaineth in the sacra- 
ment as long, as the accidents of bread and wine remain 
there without corruption. XXIII. Or that a mouse, or «o 
any other worm, or beast may eat the body of Christ 
(for so some of our adversaries have said and taught.) 
XXIV. Or that when Christ said, " Hoc est corpus 
meum," the word " Hoc" pointed not the bread, but 
" Individuima vagum," as some of them say. XXV. Or n 
that the accidents, or forms, or shows of bread and wine 
be the sacrament of Christ's body and blood, and not 
rather the very bread and wine itself. XXVI. Or that 
the sacrament is a sign or token of the body of Christ, 
that lieth hidden underneath it. XXVII. Or that igno- 30 
ranee is the mother and cause of true devotion. The 
conclusion is, that I shall be then content to yield and 
subscribe. 



1560.] Proelamatum agaitut dtfaetn ofmonMmmtU. 857 



LIV. 

Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Chrtfti Reg. Anglte 

Matth. Parker i. 1560. Elizab. 3. 

The queerCs proclamation against dsfacers of monumenti 
in churches. Fuller's Ch. Hist, lib^ ix. pag. 66. 

Elizabeth. 

^T^HE queen's majesty understanding, that by the means 
of sundry people, partly ignorant, partly malicious 61* 
covetous, there hath been of late years spoiled and broken 
5 certain ancient monuments, some of metal, some of stone^ 
which were erected up as well in churches, as in other 
public places within this realm, only to shew a memory 
to the posterity of the persons there buried, or that had 
been benefactors to the building or dotations of the samye 

lo churches or public places, and not to nourish any kind of 
superstition ; by which means not only the churches and 
places remain at this present day spoiled, broken, and 
ruinated, to the offence of all noble and gentle hearts^ 
and the extinguishing of the honourable and good memory 

1 5 of sundry virtuous and noble persons deceased ; but also 
the true understanding of divers fiunilies in this realm 
(who have descended of the blood of the same persons 
deceased) is thereby so darkened, as the true course of 
their inheritance may be hereafter interrupted, contrary 

2o to justice ; besides many other offences, that do hereof 
ensue, to the slander of such, as either gave, or had 
charge, in times past, only to deface monuments of idoU 
atry and false feigned images, in the churches and abbeys ; 
and therefore, although it be very hard to recover things 

25 broken and spoiled, yet both to provide that no such bar* 
barous disorder be hereafter used, and to repair as much 
of the said monuments, as conveniently may be, her 
majesty chargeth and commandeth all manner of persons 

VOL. I. 8 



258 Prodamation agaimt defaceiru ofm^mrnMnU. [LIV. 

hereafter to forbear the breaking or defacing of any 
parcel of any monument, or tomb, or grave, or other in- 
scription, and memory of any person deceased, being in 
any manner of place; or to break any image of kings, 
princes, or nobles, estates of this realm, or of any other 5 
that have been in times past erected and set up for 
the only memory of them to their posterity, in com- 
mon churches, and not for any religious honour ; or to 
break down and deface any image in glass windows in 
any churches, without consent of the ordinary, upon pain lo 
that whosoever herein shall be found to offend, to be 
committed to the next gaol, and there to remain without 
bail or main-prize, unto the next coming of the justices 
for the delivery of the said gaol, and then to be further 
punished by fine or imprisonment (besides the restitution 15 
or reedification of the things broken) as to the said jus- 
tices shall seem meet; using therein the advice of the 
ordinary, and if need shall be, the advice of her majesty's 
council in her starchamber. And for such as be already 
spoiled in any church or chapel now standing, her majesty «o 
chargeth and commandeth all archbishops, bishops, and 
other ordinaries, or ecclesiastical persons, which have au- 
thority to visit the churches or chapels, to inquire^^by 
presentments of the curates, churchwardens, and certain 
of the parishioners, what manner of spoils have beents 
made, sithence the beginning of her mi^esty's reign, of such 
monuments, and by whom ; and if the persons be living, 
how able they be to repair and reedify the same; and 
thereupon to convent the same persons and to enjoin 
them, under pain of excommunication, to repair the same 20 
by a convenient day, or otherwise (as the cause shall fur- 
ther require) to notify the same to her majesty's councU 
in the starchamber at Westminster ; and if any such be 
found and convicted thereof not able to repair the same^ 
that then they be enjoined to do open penance two or 35 
tliree times in the church, as to the quality of the ornne 



1560.J ProclanuUion eigaimt (kfacer$ of mtmiii/K^^ 25d 

and party belongeth, under the like pain of excommimi- 
cation ; and if the party that offended be dead, and the 
executors of the will left, having sufficient in their hands 
unadministered, and the ofience notorious^ the ordinary of 
5 the place shall also enjoin them to repair or reediiy the 
same, upon like or any other convenient pain, to be de- 
vised by the said ordinary. And when the offender 
cannot be presented, if he be in any cathedral or colle- 
giate church, which hath any revenue belonging to it, 

>o that is not particularly allotted to the sustentation of any 
person certain, or otherwise, but that it may remain in 
the discretion of the governor thereof, to bestow the 
same upon any other charitable deed, as mending of the 
highways or such like ; her majesty enjoineth and straitly 

15 chargeth the governors, and companies of every such 
church, to employ such parcels of the said sums of money 
(as any wise may be spared) upon the speedy repair or re- 
edification of any such monuments so defaced, or spoiled, 
as agreeable to the original, as the same conveniently 

«o may be. 

And whereas the covetousness of certain persons is 
such, that as patrons of churches, or owners of the par- 
sonages impropriated, or by some other colour or pretence 
they do persuade with the parson and parishioners to 

35 take or throw down the bells of the churches and chapels^ 
and the lead of the same, converting the same to their 
private gain, and to the spoils of the said places, and make 
such like alterations, as thereby they seek a slanderous 
desolation of the places of prayer ; her majesty (to whom 

30 in the right of the crown, by the ordinance of Almighty 
God, and by the laws of this realm, the defence and pro- 
tection of the church belongeth) doth expressly forbid 
any manner of person to take away any bells or lead of 
any church or chapel, under pain of imprisonment, during 

35 her majesty's pleasure, and such further fine for the con- 
tempt, as shall be thought meet. 

s 2 



260 Queen EKzabetVs letter about new [LV. 

And her majesty chargeth all bishops and ordinaries, to 
inquire of all such contempts done from the beginning of 
her majesty's reign, and to enjoin the persons offending 
to repair the same within a convenient time ; and of their 
doings in this behalf, to certify her majesty's privy council, 5 
or the council in the starchamber at Westminster ; that 
order may be taken herein. Given at Windsor the 19th 
of Sept. the second year of her majesty's reign. 



LV. 

Archiepiac. Cant. Anno Chriiti Reg. AngiuB 

Matth. Parker a. 1560. Elizab. 3. 

Queen Elizabeth's letter about new lessons in the calendar 
before the common prayer book. Ex Reg. Parker, 
fol. 215. a. 

By the qtteene. 
Elizabeth. io 

IVyfOSTE reverend father in God, right trusty and 

right well beloved, right reverend father in God, 

right trustie and wel beloved, trustie and right well 

Queen Elizabeth* 8 letter] The Book of Common Prayer as revised 
and anthorized by act of parliament in the year 1559, contained a list 15 
of " certain lessons to be used on every Sonday in the year" (stat. 
I EHiz. cap. 2. §. 3.) in addition to the " proper lessons for divers 
feasts and days" which had been provided in the second Service Book 
of king Edward. The selection however was not in all respects com- 
plete and satisfactory ; and some other matters calling at the same 30 
time for correction, the queen addressed the present letter to the ardi- 
bishop of Canterbury, the bishop of London, Dr. Bill her almoner^ and 
Dr. Haddon, master of requests, being desirous that uniformity and 
good order should be observed. It appears however from the Admo- 
nition prefixed to the Second Book of Homilies, first published in the 95 
year 1564, that some discretion was still allowed, and even recom- 
mended to be used, in the choice of lessons. The words of the Admo- 



15^0 lessons in tie calendar. S61 

beloved, and trustie and wel beloved; we greet you 
well. Letting you to understande^ that where it is pro- 
vided by acte of parliament, holden in the first yere of 
our reigne, that whensoever we shall see cause to take 

5 further order in any rite or ceremonie, appointed in the 
book of common prayer, and our pleasure knowne 
therein, either to our commissioners for causes eccle-- 
siasticall, or to the metropolitane, that then eftsoones 
consideration should be had therein ; we therefore under- 

lo standing, that there be in the said book certain chapiters 
for lessons, and other things appointed to be read, which 
might be supplyed with other chapiters or parcells of 
scripture, tending to the hearing of the unlearned or laye 
people more to their edification ; and that furthermore in 

.5 sundry churches and chappells, where divine service, as 
prayer, preaching, and ministration of the sacraments be 
used, there is such negligence, and lacke of convenient 
reverence used towardes the comelye keeping, and order 
of the said churches, and especially of the upper parte, 

^o nition are, " where it may so chance some one or other chapter of the 
Old Testament to fedl in order to be read upon the Sundays or holy- 
days which were better to be changed with some other of the New 
Testament of more edification, it shall be weU done to spend your time 
to consider well of such chapters beforehand/' And even at a later 

25 period " Dr. G. Abbot (afterwards archbishop of Canterbury) did 
reckon this liberty, granted in the said Admonition, to be in force even 
in his time .... saying, ' It is not only permitted to the minister but 
commended to him, if wisely and quietly he do read canonical scrip- 
ture, where the apocryphal upon good judgment seemeth not so fit ; 

30 or any chapter of the canonical may be conceived not to have in it so 
much edification before the simple, as some othor parts of the same 
canonical may be thought to have. For the words will very weU carry 
both these.'" Strype, Ann. vol. i. I^, 2. p. 105. P. i. p. 336. Ptffker, 
vol. i. p. 168. The Order for Lessons adopted in the reign of EHiza- 

35 beth has since undergone some fiew alterations ; and it will probably be 
admitted that, whatever might have been the case formerly, there is no 
reason to suppose that any such liberty of chang^g one lesson for an- 
other has been allowed since the passing of the last act of uniformity^ 

sS 



262 Qiiem ElizctbetJCs letter aJkowt new [LV. 

called the chancels, that it breedeth no small ofl^nce 
and slaunder, to see and consider, on the one part, the 
cnriositie and costes bestowed by all sortes of men upon 
there private houses, and the other part, the uncleane or 
negligent order, or sparekeeping of the house of prayer, 5 
by permitting open decaies, and mines of coveringes, 
walls, and wyndowes, and by appointing unmeet and 
unseemly tables, with fowle clothes, for the communion 
of the sacraments, and generally leavynge the place of 
prayers desolate of all cleanlynes, and of meet oma- «o 
ments for such a place, whereby it might be known a 
place provided for divine service ; have thought good to 
require you our said commissioners, so authorized by our 
great seale for causes ecclesiasticall, or foure of you, 
whereof we will you Matthew, archbishop of Canterbury ; »5 
Edmund, bishop of London ; William Bill, our almoner ; 
and Walter Haddon, one of the masters of our requestes, 
to be always two, to peruse the order of the said lessons 
throughout the whole yere, and to cause some new 
calenders to be imprinted, whereby such chapters or «> 
parcells of less edification may be removed, and other 
more profitable may supply their rooraes; and further 
also to consider, as becometh, the forsaide great disorders 
in the decaies of churches and in the unseemly keepings 
and order of the chauncells, and such like, and according n 
to your discretions to determyne upon some good and 
speedy meanes of reformation, and amongst other things 
to order, that the tables of the commandments may be 
comlye set, or hung up in the east end of the chaunceU, 
to be not only read for edification, but also to give some 30 
comlye ornament and demonstration, that the same is a 
place of religion and prayer; and diligently to provide, 
that whatsoever ye shall devise, either in this, or any 
other like pointe, to the reformation of this disorder, that 
the order and reformation be of one sorte and fieu^on, 3S 
and that the thinges prescribed may accord in one fonne» 



1560.] lessons in the calendar. MS 

as nighe as they may ; specially, that in all collegiate and 
cathedral churches, where cost may be more probablie 
allowed, one manner be used ; and in all parish churches 
also, either the same, or at the least, the like, and one 
5 manner throughout our realme : and further, we will 
that, where we have causid our book of commo^ service 
to be translated into the Latin tongue, for the use and 
exercise of such studentes, and other learned in the Latin 
tongue ; we will also that by your wisdome and discre- 

10 tions, ye prescribe some good orders to the coU^ate 
churches, to which we have permitted the use of the 
divine service and prayer in Latin tongue, in such sorte 
as ye shall consider to be most mete to be used, in re- 
spect of their companies, or of resorte of our laye sub- 

15 jectes to the said churches, so that our good purpose in 
the said translation be not frustrated, nor be corruptlie 
abused, contrarie to the effect of our meaning. And for 
the publication of that, which you shall order, we will 
and require you, the archbishop of Cant, to see the same 

20 put in execution throwghout your province, and that 
you, the rest of our commissioners beforementioned, pre- 
scribe the same to the archbishop now nominated of 
York, to be in like manner set forth in that province, 
and that the alteration of any thing hereby ensuing, be 

95 quietly done, without shew of any innovation in the 
church. And these our letters shall be your sufficient 
warrant in this behalf. Yeaven under our signet at our 
palace of Westminster the 22d. day of Januaiye, the 
thirde yere of our reign. 

30 To the mast reverend fa^er in God^ our right trueiie 
and right well beloved Matthew^ archbishop of Canter' 
bury; the right reverend father in God^ our right 
trustie and tvel beloved Edmundf by shop of London^ 
and to the rest of our eommiseianers far causes 

•^5 ecclesiastical. 

84 



^64 Artidei agreed upon at Lamibkk. [LVI. 



LVI. 



Archiepiic. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angliw 

Matth. Parker 2. 1561. Elizas. 3. 

Articles agreed upofi at the second session t?i Lambeth the 
I2th day of Aprils A.D. 1561, by the most reverend 
fathers in God^ Matthew^ Uyrd archbishop of Cant. 
Thomas^ lord archbishop of Yo^*k^ with the assent of 
their brethren the bishops to the same. Ex Reg. 
Parker. 



THIRST, That the articles agreed on at the first ses- 
sion, be ratyfied, confirmed, and put in execution 
accordingly. 

Item, That readers be once agen by every ordinarie 
reviewed, and there abilitie and manners examined, and 5 
by discretion of the ordinarys to remayne in ther office, 
or to be removed, and ther wages to be ordered; and 
the abstinence of mechanical sciences to be also enjoyned 
by the discretion of the said ordinaries as well to min- 
isters, as to readers, 10 

Item, That the declaration devised for unitye of doc- 
trine, may be enjoyned to be used throughout the realme 
uniformly. 

Articles agreed upon] " The archbishop of Canterbury, with Thomas 
archbishop of York, the bishops of London and Ely, and some others 15 
of the ecclesiastical commission, were now sitting at Lambeth, upon 
the regulating and ordering of the matters of the church. And on 
the 1 2th day of April (being their second session) certain articles were 
agreed upon.** Strype, Parker, vol. i. p. 194. 



1561 ArHctes ciffreed up(m c^ Lambeih. !i65 

De non hcaiid. beneficia vel aliquam inde parceUam. 

Item, At the institution of every parson, or curate 
they be examined by othe, upon these articles following : 

r For alienation of there glebe lands, 
5 Of secrete J For the forgeaving of the patrons tithes, 
compacts ] For pensions newly exacted, 

I For summes of money and other contributions, 

with intimation to them, if they be after founde culpa- 
ble in any of the same, to be deprived. And for the 
10 tyme to comme either to receive voluntary bands, " Ad 
usum reginse vel alicujus hospitalis pauperum de non 
locando sine consensu ordinarii.** 

Item, That no curate or minister be permitted to serve 
without examination, and admission of the ordinarie, or 
>5 his deputies in writing, having respect to the greatness of 
the cure, and the meteness of the partie ; and that the 
said ministers, yf they remove from one dioces to an- 
other, be by no meanes admitted to serve without tes- 
timonie of the diocesan, from whence he cometh, in 
20 wrytinge. 

Item, That all old service books, grailes, antipho- 
nars, and other be defiEU^ and abolished by order in 
visitations. 

Item, That besides the catechisme for children, which 

3 5 Item, That besides the catechisme] The Catechism in the Book of 
Common Prayer did not as yet contain the doctrine of the sacTBments 
(which was introduced in the reign of James I.), and was intended 
solely for children previously to confirmation. The knowledge ob« 
tained from it was then thought sufficient to qualify a person for be- 

$0 coming a communicant, as appears from the following article of the 
queen's visitors (anno 1559), "Whether they have admonished their 
parishioners that they ought not to presume to receive the sacrament 
of the body and blood of Christ, before they can say perfectly the 
Lord's Prayer, the Articles of the fiedth, and the Ten Commandments 

35 in English." So that the circnmstanoes of the case suggested the 



S66 Articles agreed upon at LambeA. [LVI. 

are to be confirmed, an other summewhat longer may be 
devised for communicants, and the thirde in Laten for 
scholes. 

composition of another Catechism for the further instruction of com- 
municants, and a third to be written in Latin, and drawn up at greater 5 
length, for the use of those who enjoyed the benefit of a liberal educa- 
tion. A Catechism of this last description had been much wanted. 
In 1547 the Catechism of Erasmus had been ordered to be used in 
Winchester college and elsewhere, (Wilkins, Cone. p. 9.) In 1553 
the Catechism of king Edward, usuaUy ascribed to bishop Poinet, was 10 
directed by royal authority to be used in all schools. But other com- 
pilations obtained from the continent, such as the smaller and larger 
Catechisms of Calyin, first published in Latin in the years 1538 and 
1545, and afterwards repubUshed in various forms and several lan- 
guages, (Walchii Bibl. Theol. tom. i. p. 509,) and the more popular 15 
Catechisms of the Helvetic reformers, such as CEcolampadius (i545)» 
Leo Judas (1553), and more especially BuUinger (i559> Walchii Bibl. 
Theol. tom. i. p. 507), had been adopted by many teachers, and occa-> 
sioned much complaint as to the want of a uniform system of religioiis 
instruction. Even in the year 1578, when the deficiency had been 20 
corrected by the pubUcation of dean Nowell's Catechisms, and the ex- 
clusive use of them had been enjoined in the canons of i57i> the 
Catechisms of Calvin and BuUinger were still ordered by statute to be 
used, as well as others, in the university of Oxford. (Wood, Ann. 
vol. ii. p. 193) ... It is probable that when the bishops drew up this 25 
article, dean Nowell was already employed in preparing the kind of 
Catechism that was required. Strype says that he undertook the task 
under the advice and at the instigation of secretary Cecil, (Ann. vol. i. 
P. I. p. 525); but the letter he addressed to Cecil, and on which 
Strype appears to have rehed for his information, affords no sufficient 30 
evidence of it, and seems rather to imply that the undertaking arose 
out of his own conviction that some such compendium, to be approved 
by pubUc authority, was much wanted. It is not improbable that he 
first felt this want several years before, when he was head master of 
Westminster school ; but it is certain that he had completed his work 35 
in the year 1 562, as it was ready for examination on the assemUing 
of the well-known synod, which was summoned to meet on the nth 
of November in that year. It was not published however till the yev 
1570, and it then came forth in two separate forms, the larger Cate- 
chism intended to be used in places of liberal education, and the 40 
abridgment designed for more general purposes. The fatter 



T56 1 .] Articles ayreed upon at Lamheth. 267 

Item, That prestes deprived, and other private chap- 
lens, be commanded by the ordinarys direction in this 
great necessity, to minister in cures, or else to be accord- 
ing to law excommunicated, and the excommunication 
5 effectually prosecuted. 

Item, It is agreed, that all such marriages, as have 
been contracted within the Levitical degrees, be dis- 
solved, and namely those, who have married two sisters, 
one after another, who are by common consent judged to 
10 be within the case. 

Item, It is agreed to give 20^. to every bishop of 
Cant, province to the metropolitical church there, so that 

translated into English and published by John Day, in the year 1572. 
Strype, Parker, vol. ii. p. 17. Ann. vol. i. P. i. p. 525. Churton's 

15 Newel, p. 165. Jacobson's Prefoce to the Oxf. edit. 1835. Comp. 
Nos. CIX. CXXXII. CLV. 

Item, It is agreed to give'] This appears to have been a compoflition 
for certain claims which the dean and chapter of Canterbury had on 
the several bishops of the province, as, for instance, in the case of their 

20 consecration. Wharton says, in his notes on Strype, (see Parker, 
vol. i. p. 123. vol. ii. p. 1047,) "From 1335 to 1540 I dare confi- 
dently aver that no bishop of the province of Canterbury had been 
consecrated by the archbishops, or by any other by their comniiBsion, 
in any church or place without the metropolitieal chiirch of Ctnter- 

25 bury, without license first desired and obtained in writing from the 
chapter of Canterbury under their seal ; if we except only two or 
three cases between the years 1335 and 1300; which were the occa- 
sions of great controversies between the archbisbope conseerating and 
the bishops consecrated on the one part, and the chapter of Canter- 

30 bury on the other part ; which yet always ended to the advantage ol 
the chapter, and the further confirmation of their privilege therein." 
The claim of the chapter had been acknowledged on the consecration 
of bishop Bonner in the year 1540, and the numerous oonsecratione 
which had taken place in 1559 and 1560 hiid probably led to the 

35 arrangement expressed in thia article ; the last clause of which is a 
stipulation in favour of Peter Alexander, a learned foreigner, who had 
been deprived of his prebend in the time of queen Mary, but was re- 
stored by queen Elizabeth. Le Neve's Fksti, p. 17. Rjrmer's Foideni, 
vol. XV. p. 599. Archbishop Plnker's Antiq. Britan. Sed. p. s6. 



S68 InftmcHons to he confessed [LVII. 

hit be registred as a composition between us and the 
churche for all demands and requests; and the same 
presently to be converted to D. Alexander's use for his 
clayme. 

^A contribution to be made by the^ 
For the readers of archbishops and bishops, for learned 
Cambridge and< strangers reading, for stipend, and 
Oxford. expense of journey, according to 

the rate of our revenneues. 

Matthaeus Cant. lo 

Edm. London. 
Richard. Ely. 



LVII. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi R^. Angliae 

Matth. Parker 2. 1561. Elizab. 3. 

Injunctions to be confessed and subscribed by them^ that 

shall be admitted readers, 

T NPRIMIS, I shall not preache or interprete, but only 
read that, which is appointed by publick authoritie. 

Injunctions to be confessed] ** Readers were ordained to supply the 15 
necessity of the church at this juncture. They were to serve in small 
livings, where there was no minister, and to supply till they were filled. . . 
They were taken out of the laity, tradesmen or others ; any that was 
of soher conversation and honest behaviour, and that could read and 
write . . . They seemed not wholly to forbear their callings, but were «o 
not countenanced to follow them, especially if they were mechanicals" 
Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. i. pp. 515. 265. These injunctions were con- 
firmed in the convocation of 1562, but the church was much re> 
proached on account of its readers, and they were gradually discon- 
tinned. This middle plan had evidently been devised, on the one *5 
hand to secure parishes from being entirely destitute of all religioiis 



J^6i .] hy them^ that shall be admitted readers, S69 

I shall read the service appointed playnlie, distinctlie, 
and audiblie, that all the people may heare and under- 
stand. 

I shall not minister the sacraments, nor other publick 
5 rits of the church, but burie the dead, and purifie women 
after their childbirthe. 

I shall keep the register book according to the 
injunctions. 

I shall use sobrietie in apparel, and especiallj in the 
«o church at common prayers. 

I shall move men to quiet and concord, and not geve 
them cause of offence. 

I shall bring in to my ordinarie testimonie of my be- 
haviour from the honest of the parishe, where I dweU, 
IS within one half yere next following. 

I shall give place upon convenient warning, so thought 
by the ordinarie, if any learned minister shall be placed 
there, at the sute of the patrone of the parishe. 

I shall clayme no more of the fructs sequestred of 
30 such, then I shall serve, but as it shall be thought mete 
to the wisdome of the ordinarie. 

I shall daylie at the least reade one chapter of the 
Old Testament, and one other of the Newe, with good 
advisement to the increase of my knowledge. 
25 I shall not appoynte in my rome by reason of my 
absence, or sickness, any other man, but shall leave it 
to the sute of the parish to the ordinarie, for assignynge 
some other able man. 

I shall not read, but in poorer parishes destitute of 
30 incumbents, excepte in the tyme of sickness, or for other 
good considerations to be allowed by the ordinary. 



teaching, and on the other to prevent the admiiMMon of mechanics and 
other illiterate persons into holy orders, a practice which had recently 
existed, and was strictly forhidden hy archhishop P^ker in the year 
35 1560. Strype, Parker, vol. i. p. i8o. Wood, Ann. voL ii. p. 152. 



270 The queen's letter to tie arehbUhop of Cant. [LVII I. 

Far deacmis. 

I shall not openlie intermeddle with anj artificeiB' 
occupations, as covetously to seke a gen thereby, haying 
in ecclesiastical ly ving the summe of 80 nobles or above 
by yere. s 

Matthaeus Cant. Thomas Ebor. 

Edmund London. Johannes Carleolen. 
llobertus Winton. Guliel. Chester. 
Richardus Elien. Guliel. Exon. 

Jo. Sarum. Gilb. Bathon. et Wellen. «« 

Richardus Gloucester. 



LVIII. 

Ardiiepuic Cant. Anno Christi Reg. AngiiB 

Matth. Parker 2. 1561. Elizab. 3. 

The queerCs letter to the archbishop of Canterburjfy about 
St PauTs church. — Ex Reg. Parker, fol. 231. a. 

By the queue. 

TV/TOST reverend father in God, we grete you well. 
Althoughe we knowe there nedeth no meanes to 
provoke you to further the reedifieng of the church of «s 
St. Poules, in our citie of London, being the same both 

The queen's letter] ** On Wednesday June 4, 1561, happened a ter- 
rible fire in the magnificent cathedral of London, St. Paul's church ; 
which burnt down the lofty spire steeple, struck with lightning within 
three yards of the top ; and the upper roof of the church and aisles, w 
consuming the covering wholly : and all done within the space of four 
hours. Whereat the queen was much touched, and thought seriously 
of speedy reparation, judging the religion as well as the honor of the 
nation concerned in it." Strype, Parker, vol. i. p. 184. "The queen 
went before in this good work by her own example, and gave, as our 15 
city historian (Stow) relates, a thousand marks in gold, and a thousand 
load of timber. The city granted a benevolence, and the clergy were 
directed to grant theirs." Strype, Grindal, p. 83. Ann. vol. i. P. i. 
p. 401. Collier, vol. 2. p. 475. Stowe. p. 646. 



15 5i.] Th(> archhishop's l*ifer ahotU Sf. Pmtfs (^urcl. «71 

in respecte of christian religion, and for the honour of 
our realm, a right necessarie work to be finished, and 
that with spede, whereby the use of prayer and divine 
service may be restored, and the feme and renown by 

5 such a worke duelie recovered ; yet to joyn our authoritie 
with your devotion and good will, we do authorise you 
by waye of any manner of usuall or other good con- 
ference with the bishops of your province, and the prin- 
cipal members of the clergy thereof, to devise uppon 

lo some contribution of money, and relief to be levied and 
collected of the same clergy, wherein we meane neither 
to prescribe to you the manner of levieng, nor the 
somme to be contributed, but referr the same to your 
wisdome, and the consideration of so greate a work ; and 

15 if you shall think meete to be informed therein, upon any 
special duobte, then to resorte to our counsell, who in 
that behalf shal geve you knowledge and devise of that, 
which shall be convenient. Yeven under our signet at 
our manner of Grenewiohe the 24th. of June, the third 

«o yere of our reigne. 

The archbuhofs letter to the bishop of Londcfiy about the 

same. — Ibidem. 

A ITER my right hartie commendations unto your 
lordship premised ; having reoeaved the quenes 
majesties lettres, the tenor wherof I send to you here- 
with, I have thought good for the better accomplishment 

25 of her majesties pleasure herein, to require your lordship, 
that not only upon conference with the clergie of your 
diocess, you do resolve yourselves upon such reasonable 
imposition and contribution to be collected and answered 
of our said clergie, towards the reedifying of the church 

30 of Paules, as may seme correspondent to their several 
states and prefermentes in Ijrvinge; but also that you 
do with all convenient spede signifie the tenor of the 



S7S The archbishcp'a letter about St PauTs cAurcR. [LVIII. 

quenes majesties said lettres to the residue of the bushopd 
of my province, requiring them to do the like in their 
severall dioces : doing your lordship further to understand, 
that I think this rate to be the lest, that will be ac- 
cepted, that the clergie of your diocess of London shold 5 
paie and contribute the twentith parte of their spirituall 
promotions, and the clergie of everie other diocess of my 
province, being not in their first fruictes, to pay the thir- 
teth part, and they, which be in their first fruictes, to 
pay only the fortith part of their said promotions, accord- lo 
ing to the rate taxed in the quenes majesties bookes; 
alwaies provided, that stipendaries, and curates, and all 
such beneficed men, which by order of the statute paie 
no first fruictes, be not in any wise charged herein, unless 
it be by your good perswasion ; and that aswell your lord- 15 
ship for yourself, as also all other my brethren the by- 
shops of my province, by your commandment, to send 
me your and their resolute order and answer herein vrith 
such convenient spede, as you and they may. And thus 
far you most hartilie well. From my manner of Croidon ao 
the first day of July, M.d.lxi. 

Your loving brother, 

Matthew Cant. 

To the right reverend father in God, the bushop of 
London yeve thes. 



ij6i.] Que&n Mizaiethe vyuiMtitm 4-0 SKTS 

LXIX. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Chritti R^. Anglue 

Matt. Parker 9. 1561. Elizab. 3. 

Queen Elizabeths injunctions for the better government of 
cathedrals. John Weever*s funeral monuments, p. 184. 
seq. 

By the queen. 

T^HE queen's majesty considering, how the pallaces 
and houses of cathedrall churches and colledges of 
this realme have ben both of ancyent and late tyme 
buylded and inclosed in severall to susteyne and kepe 
5 socyeties of learned men, professing study, and prayer for 
the edification of the church of God, and so consequently 
to serve the common weale ; and understanding of late, 
that within the houses hereof as well the chiefe gover- 
nours, as the prebendaries^ students, and members thereof 

lo Queen Elizabeth's injtMctions'] This injunction bears date the 9th of 
August. On the 1 2th of the same month secretary Cecil writes thus 
to the archbishop " Her majesty continueth very ill-affected to the state 
of matrimony in the clergy. And if I were not therein very stiff, her 
majesty would utterly and openly condemn and forbid it In the end, 

15 for her satisfiEiction, this injunction now sent to your grace is devised. 
The good order thereof shall do no harm. I have devised to send it in 
this sort to your grace for your province, and to the archbishop of 
York for his ; and to the chancellors of the two universities for their 
charge ; so as it shall not be promulged to be popular." Strype, Pu*- 

10 ker, vol. i. p. 214. The queen's strong feeling on this subject is shewn 
in a letter written soon afterwards by the archbishop to the secretary, 
in the following words : " I was in a horror to hear such words to come 
from her mild nature, and christianly learned conscience, as she spake 
concerning Grod's holy ordinance and institution of matrimony. I mar- 

H vailed that our states in that behalf cannot please her highness, which 
we doubt nothing at all to please God's sacred majesty, and trust to 
stand before God's judgment seat in a good conscience therewith, for 
all the glorious shine of counterfeited chastity." Strype, Fkurker, vol. iii. 
p. 50. Comp. Bum. Ecdes. Law. art marriage of priests, vol. ii. 

30 p. 453- 

VOL. I. T 



S74 Queen EKzalet1C$ vajwMtionSy (Jrc. [LXI. 

being married, do keepe particular housholds with their 
wives, children, and nurses, whereof no small offence 
groweth to th* entent of the founders, and to the quiet 
and orderly profession of studie and learning "within the 
same ; hath thought meete to provide remedie herem, lest 5 
by sufferance thereof, the rest of the colledges, specially 
such as be replenished with young students, as the very 
roomes and buildings be not answerable for such families 
of women, and young children, should follow the like 
example. And therefore expressly willeth and command- 10 
eth, that no manner of person, being either the head or 
member of any colledge or cathedral church within this 
realme, shall from the time of the notification hereof in 
the same colledge, have, or be permitted to have within 
the precinct of any such colledge his wife or other 15 
woman to abide and dwell in the same, or to frequent 
and haunt any lodging within the said colledge, upon 
pain that whosoever shall do to the contrary, shall for- 
feite all ecclesiasticall promotions in any cathedrall or 
collegiate church within this realme. And for continu- 10 
ance of this order, her majestie willeth, that the tran- 
script hereof shall be written in the booke of the statutes 
of every such colledge, and shall be reputed as parcell of 
the statutes of the same. Yeven under our signet at our 
towne of Ipswiche the ninth of August, in the third yeare «5 
of our reigne. 



I5i6.] ArcMp. of Canieriury't letter eibout residenee. 275 



LX. 



Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christ! R^. Anglin 

Mattu. Parker 2. 1561. Elizab. 3. 



The archbishop of Canterburjf's letter desiring a eertificaie 
about the residing clergy y etc. — Ex. MS. C. C. C. Can- 
tab, miscell. iv. p. 8. 

A ITER my heartie commendations, these shall be to 

desire and require you to certify me so speedily, as 

you may, of all and singular parsons, vicars, and curates 

within your and how many of them be resident ; 

5 and where the absents do dwell and remain ; how many 
of them be neither priests nor deacons ; noting the names 
of all such as be learned and able to preach, whether 
married or unmarried, of what degree, and which of them 
(being already licensed to preach) do preach accordingly. 

lo And finally how many of them do commonly keep hospi- 
tality. And that your certification in that behalf be con- 
ceived and made according to the form herein inclosed. 
And thus trusting of your diligence herein, I wish you 
well to fare. From my manner of Lambeth the first of 

15 October, A. D. Mdlxi. 

your loving friend, 

Matthew Cantuar. 



Tlie archbishop q/*] This is the order usually issued for a return of 
the clergy, but differing in this respect from the common form, that, to 
20 gratify the queen's strong impressions on the subject of marriage, it 
enquires ** whether married or unmarried." A like order was issued 
in the year 1567, but without the same enquiry. See Wilk. Cone. vol. 
iv. p. 252. The queen's attention had in the meantime been fixed on 
more important differences. 

T 2 



S76 A proclamation made for the revetmd [XLI. 



LXI. 



Archiepisc. Cant Anno Christi Reg. AngliB 

Matth. Parker 4. 1561. Elizab. 3. 

A proclamation made for the reverend usage of all churches 
and churchyards. — Strype's Life of Grindal, p. 56. 

By the queen. 

T7M3R avoiding of divers outragious and unseemly beha^ 
^ viours used as well within and near the cathedral 
church of St. Paul in London, as in divers other churches 
of this realm ; and for the better and speedier reducing 5 
of the same churches to the godly uses, for which the 
same were builded ; the queen's majesty of her godly and 
virtuous disposition straightly chargeth and commandeth, 
that all laws and good ordinances heretofore provided 
against fighting and quarrelling in churches and church- 10 
yards, shall be duly and with all severity executed, ac- 
cording to the tenor and true meaning of the said laws 
and ordinances. And further her majesty's pleasure is, 
that if any person shall make any fray, or draw or put 
out his hand to any weapon for that purpose, or shoot 15 

A proclamation made] " The gpreat and common concourse of people 
in these days, and before these days, was usually at Paul's, for the sake 
of walking and talking, and hearing and telling of news, and meeting 
upon assignation and business, and pa3nnent of money and such like : 
which occasioned great routs and tumults and quarrels oftentimes, tp so 
the profaning of that place, set apart for devotion and ^the service of 
God." Strype, Grindal, p. 83. The practice continued for many 
years afterwards ; for we have the following passage in Osborne's Life 
of King James, p. 65. "It was the feushion of those times, and did so - 
continue till these, for the principal gentry, lords, courtiers, and men of ts 
all professions not merely mechanick, to meet in Paul's church by 1 1 
and walk in the middle ile till 12, and after dinner from 3 to 6; 
during which time some discoursed of business, others of news J 



«• 



15 1 <$•] wage ofaU churohes and ehurdyards. 2T7 

any hand gun or dagg within the cathedral church of St. 
Paul, or churchyard adjoining thereunto, or within the 
limits of the four chains compassing the same, or within 
any other church or churchyard, shall receive not only 
5 the punishment contained in the statutes for the same 
provided ; but also, being thereof convicted either by the 
evidence of his fSeu^t, testimony of two honest and indif- 
ferent persons, or by then* ovm confession before her 
highness's council in the starchamber, or the mayor for 

>o the time being within the city of London ; and in other 
places out of the same city, before two justices of the 
peace of that country or place, where any of the said 
offences shall be committed, shall suffer imprisonment by 
the space of two months, without bail or mainprize, and 

15 further pay such fine and forfeiture towards the reparation 
of the said church of St. Paul, or of other churches, where 
the same offence shall be committed, as shall be assessed 
by the said council, mayor, or justices, before whom such 
conviction shall be, as is aforesaid. 

)o And her majesty further straitly chargeth and com- 
mandeth all and singular her subjects, that none of them^ 
during the time of preaching within the said church of 
St. Paul's, or churchyard of the same, or of any divinity 
lecture, reading, or divine service in the said church, or 

15 in any other church or churchyard vdthin the realm, shall 
walk up and down, or use any kind of disturbance, or 
spend the time in the same about any bargain, or other 
profane causes ; but shall resort unto the conmion prayer, 
preaching, or reading, and there quietly and reverently 

30 behave themselves, as to the duty of Christian men ap- 
pertaincth ; or else quietly to avoid out of the said church 
or place, upon pain of imprisonment, and of such further 
fine, as is aforesaid : the fine always to be converted to 
the repair of the church, where the offence shall be 

35 committed. 

Her majesty also straitly chaigeth and conmiandeth, 

T 8 



S78 A proelamattm made for the reverend [XLIj 

that all persons do forbear to make, from h^ioefbrth, an]r 
limitation or appointment, by writing or otherwise, tot 
the payment of any sum or sums of money, within the 
said church of St. Paul's, or in any other church or 
chapel, where divine service is or shall be used, and the 5 
word of God preached ; or to carry or recarry any bur- 
then, fardel, or other unseemly thing through the said 
churches, other than for the repairing, or other necessaries 
of the same churches, upon pain of imprisonment, and 
further punishment by fine, as is aforesaid. »o 

Provided always, that it shall be lawful as well to any 
persons, which at this present stand bound by any former 
covenant or bond to make any payment of any sum or 
sums of money in any church, or other place aforesaid, to 
make tender and payment of the same ; as also to every 15 
such person and persons, to whom the same is or shall 
be due, to receive the same in such place, wh^e it is 
limited to be tendered and paid ; unless the parties 
(which is trusted they will, for good order sake) shall 
otherwise agree ; this proclamation to the contrary not- «© 
withstanding. 

And for the better execution of this proclamation, her 
majesty's pleasure and express commandment is, that the 
mayor, aldermen, sheriffs, and other her officers, and com- 
mons of her city of London, and every of them, do not as 
only aid and assist, and help the bishop of the said see 
and church of St. Paul's, for the time being, and other 
ecclesiastical officers and ministers of the same, from time 
to time, in the due execution of the premises, as need 
shall require ; but also, that the said mayor of London 30 
shall appoint, every Sunday and other holidays in the 
year, during such time, and at every time they shall be 
thought by the bishop or dean of the church requisite, 
one or two of the aldermen of the said city of London, 
accompanied with four or six discreet commoners of the $$ 
said city, and attended upon with a convenient number 



i5<$i0 usage ofaU ciureAet and eiwcfyardt, S79 

of the Serjeants and officers of the said city, to repair 
unto the said church of St. Paul, there to see the pre- 
mises duly executed in aU pomts accordingly. 

And if they shall find any person disobedient or 
^ offending in any thing, touching the premises, to appre- 
hend and commit him forthwith to prison, there to 
remain without bail or mainprize, until further order he 
taken with the said offenders, in form aforesaid. And 
finally, her majesty straitly chargeth and commandeth all 

'<> and singular her justices of the peace, mayors, sheriffs, 
bailiffs, constables, headboroughs, churchwardens, and all 
other her highnesses officers, ministers, and subjects, that 
they, and every of them, from time to time, endeavour 
themselves, to the best of their powers, to cause and see, 

■5 that this her majesty's proclamation and express com- 
mandment within the limits of their jurisdictions and 
parishes be put in due and full exiecution, according to 
the form abovementioned ; as they tender her msjettfi 
special favour, and will avoid the contrary at their peril. 

^o Yeven at St. James's, the 80th of October, in the third 
year of the reign of Elizabeth, etc. anno Domini 
Mdlxi. 



T 4 



880 Q. MixaiethU letter for /aaing duriiig Oe fiagut. [LXII. 



LXII. 

Archiepiac. Caul. Anno Chritti R^. Anglue 

Matth. Parkeb 3. 1562. Elizab. 5. 

Queen Elizabeth's letter to the archbishop^ authorizing his 
prayers and orders for fasting during the plague. 
Strype's life of archb. Parker, app. p. 84. 

By the queen. 
Elizabeth. 

TVyf OST reverend father in God, right trusty and right 
well beloved, we greet you well. Like as almighty 
God hath of his mere grace conmiitted to us, next under 
him, the chief government of this realm and the people 
therein ; so hath he, of his like goodness, ordered under 5 
us sundry principal ministers, to guide and assist us in 
this burden. And therefore considering the state of this 
present time, wherein it hath pleased the most highest, 
for the amendment of us and our people to visit certain 
places of our realm with more contagious sickness, than 10 
lately hath been ; for remedy and mitigation whereof, we 
think it both necessary and our bounden duty, that uni- 
versal prayer and fasting be more effectually used in this 
our realm. And understanding that you have thought 
and considered upon some good orders to be prescribed 15 
therein, for the which ye require the application of our 
authority, for the better observation thereof amongst our 
people ; we do not only commend and allow your good 

Queen Elizabeth's letter.'] Tliis appears to have been the first ge« 
neral fast enjoined by authority in the reign of queen fHizabeth ; and so 
the circumstances that gave occasion to it, the manner in which it was 
proposed and conducted by the bishops, and the rules laid down for tiie 
due observance of it, are stated at length, by Strype, Fvrksr, vol. L 
pp. 359 — 267. Grindal, p. io6. See also No. LXXXV. 



i5$2*] Form of ilmihgMng for the qMm^» reeowry. 881 

zeal therein, but do also command all manner our min- 
isters ecclesiastical or civil, and all other our subjects to 
execute, follow, and obey such godlj and wholesome 
orders, as you, being primate of all England, and metro- 

5 politan of this province of Canterbury, upon godly advice 
and consideration, shall uniformly devise, prescribe, and 
publish for the universal usage of prayer, fasting, and 
other good deeds during the time of this visitation by 
sickness and other troubles. Yeven under our signet at 

lo our manour of Richmond the first day of August, the fifth 
year of our reign. 



LXIII. 

Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Chritti R^. Anglia 

Matth. Parkeb 3. 1563. Elizas. 5. 

Order for a form of prayer of ihanksgiving for the queen^s 
recovery. Reg. Grindal, fol. 26. a. 

A FTER our very hearty commendations to your lord- 
"^ ship. Where the queen's majesty is at this present^ 
God be thanked, after some extremity of sickness very 

15 well recovered ; because it may happen that some vain 
brutes may be spread abroad of this matter, especially in 
the city of London, we have thought good to signify 
these joyfiiU tidings unto your lordship, and pray you to 
take order that the same may be published to morrow at 

10 Poules crosse, and there thanks to be given to almighty 
God for this her majesty's good recovery; and humbly to 

Order for a form.'] The ncknesa in this instance does not appear to 
have been of long duration ; bat any sickness woold at this time have 
given occasion to fears and distorbanoes. On sabseqoent occasions, as 
25 in the year 156S, forms of prayer and thanksgiving were drawn up, to 
be used during the continuance of her iUness, and after her reco v er y . 
Strype, Ann. vol. L P. a. pp. 267. 549. 



S8S AdmonUion to aU $uch as intend to marry. [LXI V. 

pray his blessed goodness to continue the same. And 
thus we bid your good lordship heartily farewell. From 
Hamptoncourt the 17th of Octob. M.DXXII. 

Your good lordship* s loving friends^ 

N. Bacon, C. S. W. Hawarde. 5 

Winchester. F. Knolles. 

Arundell. W. Cecyll. 

F. Bedforde. Ab. Cave. 

E. Clynton. John Mason. 
Sakevyle. 



LXIV. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglie 

Mattu. Parker 4. 1563. Elizab. 5. 

An admonition to all such as shall intend hereafter to enter 
the state ofmatrimmiyy godly and agreeable to laws. 

piBST, That they contract jy^ABHIAGE is honoumUe 10 
not with such persons, as among all men, and the 

An admonition to all 8u^h'\ This table appears to have been set forth 
in the first instance in the year 1560, (Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. i. p. 332,) 
but was now (1563) published by authority, (Strype, Pbrker, voLi. 
p. 556,) and has ever since declared the law as to prohibited degreee ; 15 
although some of the introductory regulations, such, for instance, as the 
permission to publish banns on festival days (a permission repeated in 
the rubric for the solemnization of matrimony) are no longer in force. 
Hic table is quoted in the advertisements of the year 1564, and in the 
canons of 1603, (can. 99,) as being the authorized interpretation of the to 
laws of God upon the subject. The whole doctrine is derived from the 
1 8th chap, of Leviticus, and the several instances of prohibited degrees 
contained in that chapter are cited in the Statutes 25 Henry VIII. 
cap. 22. and 28 Henry VHI. cap. 7. It appears however from a lettor 
addressed by archbishop Cranmer to lord Cromwell two years after the ^ 
passing of the first act, that he suggested at the time the ni 



^5^30 Adm(mit%cn to all 6ueh <i8 inimd to marry. 288 

be hereafter expressed, nor bed undefiled ; but whoremon- 

with any of the like decree, gers mid adtdterers Qod will 

against the law of Ood, and the judge. Heb. xiii. 4. 
laws of the realm. 

5 of introducing into the statute many other instances not actually enu- 
merated in Leviticus, but equally prohibited in principle. His words 
are : " By the law of God many persons be prohibited which be not 
expressed, but be understood by like prohibition in equal degree. As 
St. Ambrose saith that the niece is forbid by the law of God, although 

10 it be not expressed in Leviticus, that the uncle shall not marry his 
niece. But where the nephew is forbid there, that he shall not marry 
his aunt, by the same is understood that the niece shall not be married 
unto her uncle. Likewise as the daughter is not there plainly ex- 
pressed, yet where the son is forbid to marry his mother, it is under- 

15 stood that the daughter may not be married to her feither ; because 
they be of Hke degree And as touching the act of parliament con- 
cerning the degrees prohibited by God's law, they be not so plainly set 
forth as I would they were. Wherein I somewhat spake my mind at 
the making of the said law, but it was not then accepted." Strype, 

20 Cran. vol. i. p. 66. These views and the firequent applications made to 
the archbishop for dispensations in cases prohibited in prindple, bat not 
forbidden by express words in the statute, led eventuaUy to the forma- 
tion of the table that was published by archbishop Parker in the year 
1563, the principles on which it was drawn out being the following: 

251. That the degrees which are laid down as to men, will hold equally M 
to women in the same proximity. 2. That the husband and wife are 
but one flesh ; so that he who is related to the one by consanguinity, 
is related to the other by affinity in the same degree. (Gibs. Cod. 412.) 
The case of marrying a wife's sister has been more disputed than others, 

30 inasmuch as the instance actually expressed in Leviticas merely forbids 
the having two sisters at the same time; but it is clearly one of the 
cases prohibited in principle, or as bishop Jewel stated the case in a 
letter dated cal. Nov. 1561. (Strype, Parker, vol.i. p. 222. vol. ill. 
p. 57.) *• Albeit I be not forbidden by plain words to marry my wife's 

35 sister, yet am I forbidden so to do by other words, which by exposi* 
tion are plain enough. For when God commands me, I shall not 
marry my brother's wife, it follows directly by the same, that he forlnds 
me to marry my wife's sister. For between one man and two sisters, 
and one woman and two brothers is like analogy or proportion.** See 

40 Gibs. Cod. 412. Bum. Ek^cl. Law, vol. ii. p. 447. These canonical dis- 
abilities however must be understood witii the foDowing limitation: 
" Such marriages not being void -ab initio, bat voidable only by sen* 



884 



AdmanUian to aU 8fuh as intend to marry, [LXI V. 



Secondly, That they make 
no secret contractei without 
consent and counsel of their 
parents or elders, under whose ' 
authority they be, contrary to 
Ood^s laws, and man^s ordi- 
nances. 

Thirdly, That they contract 
not anew with any other, upon 
divorce and separation made 
by the judge for a time ; the 
laws yet standing to the con- 
trary. 



To avoid fornication let every 
man have his wife, and let 
every woman have her hus- 
band : he that cannot contain, 
let him marry; for better it is 5 
to many, than to bum. i Gor. 
vii. 2, 9. 

Unto the married I com- 
mand, not I, but the Lord, let 
not the wife depart from her 10 
husband; but if she depiurt, 
let Jier remain unmarried, or 
be reconciled unto her hus- 
band : and let not the husband 
put away his wife, i Gor. vii. is 
10, II. 



I. It is to be noted, that those persons, which be in 
the direct line ascendent, cannot marry together, al- 
though they are never so far asunder in degree. 

II. It is also to be noted, that consanguinity and affi- «> 
nity (letting and dissolving matrimony) is contracted as 
well in them and by them, which be of kindred by the 
one side, as in and by them which be kindred by both 
sides. 

III. Item, That by the laws consanguinity and affinity 15 
(letting and dissolving matrimony) is contracted as well 
by unlawful company of man and woman, as by lawful 
marriage. 

tence of separation, they are esteemed valid to all civil purposes, unless 
such separation is actually made during the life of the parties. For ^o 
after the death of either of them, the courts of common law will not 
suffer the spiritual courts to declare such marriages to have been void ; 
because such declaration cannot now tend to the reformati<m of the 
parties. And therefore, when a man had married his first wife's sister, 
and after her death the bishop's court was proceeding to annul tiie 35 
marriage, and bastardize the issue, the court of king's bench granted 
a prohibition quoad hoc ; but permitted them to proceed to punish Ae 
husband for incest." Blackst. Com. vol. i. p. 434. 



^5^3-] Admonition to aU $nA a$ intend to marry. 986 

IV. Item, In contracting betwixt persons doubtful, 
which be not expressed in this table, it is most sure first 
to consult men learned in the law ; to understand what is 
lawful, what honest and expedient, before the finishing of 

* their contracts. 

V. That no parson, vicar, or curate shall solemnize 
matrimony out of his or their cure, or parish church, or 
chapel, and shall not solemnize the same in private houses, 
nor lawless exempt churches, under pains of the law for- 

>o bidding the same. And that the curate have their certi- 
ficates, where the parties dwell in divers parishes. 

VI. Item, The bands of matrimony ought to be openly 
denounced in the church by the minister three several 
Sundays or festival days, to the intent, that who will and 

<5 can alledge any impediment, may be heard, and that stay 
may be made till further tryal, if any exception be made 
there against it upon sufficient caution. 

VII. Item, who shall maliciously object a fHvolous 
impediment against the lawful matrimony to disturb the 

3o same, is subject to the pains of the law. 

VIII. Item, who shall presume to contract in the de- 
grees prohibited (though he do it ignorantly) besides that 
the fruit of such copulation may be judged unlawful, is 
also punishable at the ordinary's discretion. 

^5 IX. Item, If any minister shall conjoin any such ; or , 
shall be present at such contracts making ; he ought to 
be suspended from his ministry for three years, and other- 
wise to be punished according to the laws. 

X. Item, It is further ordained, that no parson, vicar, 

50 or curate do preach, treat, or expound of his own volun- 
tary invention, any matter of controversy in scriptures, if 
he be under the degree of a master of arts, except he be 
licensed by his ordinary thereunto; but only for in- 
struction of the people, read homilies already set forth, 

3<; and such other form of doctrine, as shall be hereafter by 
authority published, and shall not innovate, or alter any 



286 Admmitwm to alt auci aa intend to many. [LXIV. 

thing in the cliurcli, or use any old rite or ceremony, 
which is not set forth by public authority. 

None shall come near to any of the kindred of his 
flesh to uncover their shame: I am the Lord. Levit. 
xviii. 6. 





A man may not marry his 


A woman may not mBiry with her 




(!ecundiisgrBdii9in 








Secundusgradiuiio 




liiita recta ascend. 








tinea recta aicend. 


Con 


Avia. 


I Grand molher. 




Con. 


Atub. 


Aff. 


Avi ralicta. 


1 Gnindfach.wife. 




Aff. 


Avic relictua. 


AfT- 


Protnena rel so. 


3 Wita grand- 




Aff. 


CO- inagniu. / 




cru»mflgnB. 










Seciind. ffT. itiie- 








Secund. Brad, imc- 




qnd:> in Un« 








quaU.mlin.tiuu. 


























Con. 


Amita. 


4 FaiheB siHer. 


4 Fflthen brath. 


Coo. 




Con. 


Mnterleni. 


5 Mothcra tiitcr. 


^ Mother, broth. 


Aff. 




Aff. 


Patnii relkta. 


CFatb.hn>.«ife. 


6F8th..irt.hiiib. 


Aff. 


Amite relictui. 


Aff. 


Avunciili reliela. 


7M01h.bro.wife. 


; Moth.sist. hui. 


Aff 




Aff. 


Arnica uiori.. 


H Wife, falh, luB. 


ellusb. rath. faro. 


Aff. 


Patmm matili. 


Aff. 


Mawnera iiioris. 
Primus grad.inlin. 


9 Wires mo. liit. 


9 Huab.moth.bro. 


Aff. 


AninciJuj roariti. 
Primu.Br«d.inlin. 
recta auend. 


Con. 


SlTler."^" *'"''■ 


Mother. 1 


Father. 


Con. 


Pal«r. 


Aff. 


Noverta. i 




Stepfather. 


Aff. 


Vitricua. 


Aff. 


Socrns. i 
PrLm,«gn.d.inlin. 


1 Wife, mother, i 


1 Hu.i>. father. 


Aff. 


Priin!Knd.in liuu 


Con. 


Filia. . 


3 DBUfihter. . 


3 Son. 


Con. 


FiUuik 


Aff. 


Pririgna. 1 


4 Wif« daugli. 1 


4[IiiabaDdiiion. 


Aff. 


Privignus. 


Con. 


Num.. . 
Primu. gnui«, «. 

,l«ali.nlin.c™„.. 

veranli. 


J Sons wife. 


5 Xh»^u-n hn.. 


Aff. 


Gener. 

Primu. pwiu. ■- 

quali.inlin.tnn.- 

»er«. 


Con. 


Soror. 1 


G SinKr. 1 


5 Brother. 


Con, 


Frator. 


Aff. 


ioror tiioris. i 


7 WirBtaiiter. i 


7 Hush, broth. 


Aff. 




Aff. 


Fratris relicta. i 
Seeund.graiJ.mlin. 
recta dt^nd. 


8 BrDtben wife, t 


S Siitera hu.b. 


Aff. 


Sorort. TcHctiu. 
SBCund-gnd-inlia. 
recta deuend. 


Con. 


Nepti. e. filio. 1 


1 Sons dBugh(«'. I 


jSomwn. 


Con. 


Nepoiexfilio. 


Con. 


Nepli. ex filia. i 


D Daiighlera rfmi. i 


Daughter. »n. 


Aff. 


NepoexfiU.. 


Aff. 


Pronurui,!. relic 1 i 
nepoti« ex filio- / 


Son. son. wife, i 


Soul dang. hu.. 


Aff. 


Pn^ener, i. rdio. 










neptli ex lUio. 


Aff. 


Pronnniii.relic.l i 
nepotJi ex lilia. / 


) Daughiera ma. 3 


a Daughten dan. 


Aff. 


Progener, i. n^cc 




wife. 


hu.b. 




ueptis ei Glia. 


Aff. 


Pris-igni filia. i 


3 Wifessongdau. 1 




Aff. 


Privigni Alius. 


Aff. 


Prit-igoK ftlia. i 

Socundiii grudiiH 
in»|UBlis ill lines 


4Wif.daug.dBU. I 


Hush. daug.Mni. 


Aff. 


Privigna filin.. 
SeomduB gnd. in- 
nquaUi in lino 


Con. 


Nepli. ex fralre. 3 


Broth, daught. J 


Brothera .on. 


Con. 


Nepal ex Inm. 


Con. 


•lepti. ei: lorore. 2 


6 SiMen dau^t. 1 


Siuan«m. 


Con. 




Aff. 


S'epolisGi frat. rd. i 


fBro.ion.Hife. 1 


Bro. dauR.hu.b. 


Aff. 


Nepii. ex fral. nL 


Aff. 


NpiHNii ex lor. ivt. ] 


H SiH. ions wife. 1 


Sin.dHugb.hu.. 


Aff, 


NepU. ex w. reL 


Aff. 


Neplii uxor ex fra. i 


1 Wifej brother. 3 
duuKhter. 


Husli. bnrthcra 


Aff. 


Le»iri filiuv i. ne- 
IKHDwitinfmL 


Aff. 


NVi»uxorex»r.3 


3 Wife H.t.dui. j 


Hii.b..i>t.Hn. 


\a. 


Glori. fihu*,i. n«- 
p09 mariti ex Mr. 



1564-] For dm order in tie puiUc admm$traium, 4rc. t87 



LXV. 

Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. AngUn 

3Iatth. Parker 6. 1564. Elizab. 7. 

Advertiseme7its partly for due order in the publique ad- 
ministration of common prayers^ and usinge the holy so- 
cramentes, and partly for the appareU of all persons 
ecclesiastically by vertue of the queenes majesties letters^ 
commaunding the samCy the 25th day of January^ in the 
seventh yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne lady JSU- 
zabeth, by the grace of Grod of Englande^ Fraunce^ and 
Irelande queene^ defender of the faiths etc. Ex Prae&t. 
Annal. Elizab. Cambd. edit. Heam. p. 33. seq* 

The preface. 

^ T^HE queenes majestye of her godly zeale calling to 
remembraunce howe necessary it is to the avaunce^ 

Advertisements partly] These advertiBeinentB and the proceedings 
consequent thereon occasioned the first open separation of the noncon- 

lo formists from the church of £kigland» the professed ground of separa- 
tion being the necessity of wearing the same apparel that was oaed by 
the Romanists, but the real point at issue being, and soon afterwards 
shewing itself to be, the right principle of church government. The 
advertisements were drawn up by the archbishop, and other bishops in 

20 commission with him, in obedience to peremptory letters addressed to 
him by the queen, (Stryp^, Parker, vol. L p. 307. vol. liL p. 65,) who 
had been informed that great irregularities prevailed without any en- 
deavours on the part of the bishops to repress them, and was deter- 
mined that stricter methods of discipline and good order should be 

25 exercised for the future. It i^pears, however, that several of her 
council, as for instance Lieicester, Burleigh, Knollys, and Walsingham, 
were disposed to favour the wishes of the puritans ; and whether fincnn 
this cause or some other, although the queen was the person really re- 
sponsible for these advertisements, she did not officially give her sano- 

30 tion to them at the timcj but left them to be enfimroed by the several 
bishops on the canonical obedienee imposed upon the dergy and the 



288 Far due atder in theptMie admrnidrcOion [XLV. 

ment of God's glory, and to the establishmente of 
Christes pure religion, for all her loving subjects, espe- 
cially the state ecclesiasticall to bee knitte together in 
one perfecte unitye of doctrine, and to bee conjoyned in 
one uniformity of rites and maners in the ministration 5 
of God's holy worde, in open prayer and ministration of 
sacraments, as also to be of one decent behavioure in 
their outwarde apparell, to be knowne partely by th^ 
distinct habits to bee of that vocation (who shoulde be 
reverenced the rather in their offices, as ministers of the 10 
holye thinges whereto they bee called) hathe by her let- 
ters directed unto the archebyshop of Canterbury and 
metropolitane, required, enjoyned, and straightly charged, 
that with assistance and conference had with other by- 
shops, namely suche as be in commission for causes ec- <5 
clesiasticall, some orders might bee taken, whereby all 
diversities and varieties amonge them of the cleargy and 
the people (as breedinge nothinge but contention, ofience, 
and breache of common charity, and be agaynste the 

powers conveyed to the ordinaries by the act of uniformity. Tlieir so 
title and prefeice certainly do not claim for them the highest degree 
of authority; and although Strype infers from certain evidence which 
he mentions, (Parker, vol. i. p. 319,) that they afterwards received the 
royal sanction, and recovered their original title of articles and ordi- 
nances, it seems more probable that they owed their force to the inde- 35 
finite nature of episcopal jurisdiction, supported, as in this instance wis 
known to be the case, by the personal approval of the sovereign. The 
way in which the archbishop speaks of them in his articles of enquiry, 
issued in the year 1569, (No. LXXIII.) certainly assigns to them 
" public authority," but clearly distinct from that of the crown ; and in 50 
the year 1584, (No. XCIX.) archbishop Whitgift refers to them as 
having authority, but still calls them simply the book of advertise- 
ments. The canons of 1603, confirmed by king James, quote them 
under canon 24, and so far give them the royal sanction. Comp. 
Strype, Parker, vol. i. p. 313. vol. ii. p. 75. Ann. vol. i. P. 11. p. 130. 35 
Grindal, p. 154. Burnet's H. R. vol. iii. p. 587. Neal's Hist, of tiie 
Purit. vol. i. p. 127. ed. 1837. Collier, vol. ii. p. 496. Hallam. Const. 
Hist. vol. i. pp. 189. 193. 196. Lingard, voL v. p. 316. 



1564.] of common prayer <md the hofy oaerammiig. 88B 

lawes, good usage and ordinaunces of the realme) might 
be reformed and repressed, and brought to one maner of 
uniformity throughout the whole realme, that the people 
may thereby quietly honour and serve almighty God in 

5 truthe, concord, unity, peace, and quietnes, as by her 
majesties sayde letters more at large dothe appeare. 
Whereupon by diligent conference and conmiunication in 
the same, and at laste by assent and consent of the per- 
sons before sayd, these orders and rules ensuing have 

10 been thougfate meete and convenient to be used and 
folowed ; not yet prescribinge these rules as laws equiva- 
lent with the etemall worde of Grod, and as of necessity 
to b}mde the consciences of her subjeetes in the nature of 
them considered in themselves ; or as they shoulde adde 

15 any efficacye or more holynes to the vertue of publique 
prayer, and to the sacraments ; but as tempoiBll orders 
meere ecclesiasticall, without any vayne suparstition» and 
as rules in some parte of discipline concerning decency, 
distinction, and order for the time. 



20 Articles for doctrine and prea^hinge. 

Firste, That all they, whiche shalbe admitted to 
preache, shalbee diligentlye examined for theire con- 
formity in unity of doctrine, established by publique au- 
thoritye ; and admonished to use sobriety and discretion 

25 in teachinge the people, namely in matters of contro- 
versy ; and to consider the gravity of their office, and to 
foresee with diligence the matters, which they will speaker 
to utter them to the edification of the audience. 

Item, That they sette owte in theire preachinge the 

30 reverent estimation of the holy sacramentes of baptisme, 
and the Lordes supper, excitinge the people to thoften 
and devoute receaving of the holy communion of the 
body and bludde of Christe, in suche forme as is already 
prescribed in the booke of common paqrer, and as it is 

VOL. I. U 



S90 For due order in the public (uihmmsiraiian LXV.] 

further declared in an homily conceminge the vertue and 
efficacye of the saide sacramentes. 

Item, That they move the people to all obedience as 
well in observation of the orders appoynted in the booke 
of common service, as in the queenes majesties injunc- & 
tions, as also of all other civill dutyes due for subjectes 
to do. 

Item, That al licences for preaching graunted out by 
the archebyshop and byshopes within the province of 
Canterbury, bearing date before the first day of Marche, »« 
M.D.LXiv. be voyde and of none effect ; and neverthelesse 
all suche, as shalbe thought mete for the office, to bee 
admitted agayne without difficulty or charge, painge no 
more but four pens for the writinge, parchement, and 
waxe. »5 

Item, If any preacher or parson, vicare or curate so 
licensed, shall fortune to preache any matter tendinge to 
dissention, or to the derogation of the religion and doe- 
tryne receyved, that the hearers denounce the same to 
the ordinaries or the next byshope of the same place ; ao 
but no man openly to contrary or to impugne the same 
speeche so disorderly uttered, whereby may growe offence 
and disquyet of the people ; but shal be convinced and 
reproved by the ordinary after suche agreable order, as 
shall be scene to him according to the gravity of the of- «5 
fence. And that it be presented within one moneth after 
the wordes spoken. 

Item, That they use not to exacte or receave unreason- 
able rewardes or stipendes of the poore pastors cominge 
to theire cures to preache, whereby they myght bee noted a* 
as folowers of filthye lucre, rather then use thoffice of 
preaching of charity, and good zeale to the salvation of 
mens soules. 

Item, If the parson be able, he shall preache in his 
owne person everye three monethes, or else shall preache 35 
by another, so that his absence be approved by the ordi- 



1564-] of common prayer and the holy $aerammt8. S91 

nary of the dioces in respect of sickness, service, or study 
at the universityes. Neverthelesse yet for wante of able 
preachers and parsons to tolerate them withoute penaltye, 
so that they preache in theyre owne persons, or by a 
5 learned substitute, once in every three moneths of theyeare. 

• Articles for administration of prayer and sacramentes. 

First, That the common prayer be sayde or songe de- 

centlye and distinctlye in suche place, as the ordinarye 

shall thinke mete for the largenesse and streightnesse of 

»o the churche and quyer, so that the people may be moste 

edified. 

Item, That no parson or curate, not admitted by the 
bysshope of the dioces to preache, do expounde in his 
o^\^le cure, or elsewhere, any scripture or matter of doc- 
's trine, or by the way of exhortation, but only study to 
reade gravely and aptly, without any glosing of the same, 
or any additions, the homelyes already sett oute, or other 
suche necessarye doctriue as is or shall be prescribed for 
the quiet instruction and edification of the people. 
^o Item, That in cathedrall churches and coUedges the 
holye communion be ministred upon the firste or seconds 
Sundaye of everye monethe*at the leaste. So that both 
deane, prebendaries, preists, and clerkes do receave, and 
all other of discretion of the fimdation do receave foure 
^5 tymes in the yeare at the leaste. 

Item, In the ministration of the holy communion in 

cathedrall and collegiate churches, the principal! minister 

shall use a cope with gospeller and epistoler agreably ; 

and at all other prayers to be sayde at that communion 

30 table, to use no copes but surplesses. 

Item, That the deane and prebendaries weare a sur- 

plesse with a silke hoode in the quyer ; and when they 

preache in the cathedrall or collegiate churche, to weare 

theire hoode. 

35 Item, That every minister sayinge any publique 

u a 



292 For doe order in the public admnigfroHan [LXV. 

prayers, or ministringe the sacramentes or other rit^s of 
the churche, shall weare a comely surples with sleeves, 
to bee provided at the charges of the parishe ; and that 
the parishe provide a decente table standinge on a frame 
for the communion table. 5 

Item, That they shal decentlie cover with carpet, silke, 
or other decente coveringe, and with a fttyre lynnen 
clothe (at the time of the ministration) the communyon 
table, and to sett the Tenne Commaundementes upon 
the easte walle over the said table. lo 

Item, That al communicantes do receave kneeling, and 
as is appointed by the lawes of the realme and the 
queenes majesties injunctions. 

Item, That the fonte be not removed, nor that the 
curate do baptize in parishe churches in any basons, nor »5 
in anye other forme, then is alredie prescribed, vrithout 
charginge the parent to be present or absent at the 
christening of his childe, although the parent may bee 
present or absent, but not to answere as godfather for his 
childe. «o 

Item, That no childe be admitted to answere as god- 
father or godmother, except the childe hath receaved the 
commimion. 

Item, That there be none other holidayes observed 
besides the Sundayes, but onelye suche as be set out for ^5 
holidayes, as in the statute " anno quinto et sexto Ed- 
wardi sexti," and in the new calendar authorysed by the 
queenes majesty. 

Item, That when any Christian bodye is in passing, 
that the bell be tolled, and that the curate be specially 30 
called for to comforte the sicke person, and after the 
tymc of his passinge to ringe no more but one shorte 
peale, and one before the buriall, and another shorte 
peale aftherthe buriall. 

Item, That on Sundaies there be no shoppes open, 35 
nor artificers commonlye goinge aboute theire oflhires 



1564*] of common frayer and the holy sacrammis. 898 

worldly, and that in all faires and common markets fitll- 
inge uppon the Sunday, there be no shewing of any 
wares before the service be done. 

Item, That in the Rogation dayes of procession they 
5 singe or saye in Englishe the two psalmes beginninge, 
" Benedic anima mea," etc. with the letany and suffi:uge8 
thereunto with one homelye of thankesgevinge to Grod, 
already devised and divided into foure partes, without 
addition of any superstitiouse ceremonyes heretofore 
10 used. 

Articles for certayne orders in ecclesiasticall policy. 

First, Againste the day of giving of orders appoynted, 
the byshope shall give open monitions to all men to 
except agaynste suche as they knowe not to be worthy 

15 either for life or conversation. And there to give notice 
that none shall serve for orders but within their owne 
dioces, where they weare borne, or had theire longe tyme 
of dwellinge, except suche, as shall bee of degree in the 
universities. 

ao Item, That younge preistes or ministers made or to be 
made, be so instructed, that they be able to make apte 
aunsweres conceminge the forme of the catechisme pre- 
scribed. 

Item, That no curate or minister bee permitted to 

25 serve without examination and admission of the ordinary 
or his deputy in writing, having respect to the greatnes 
of the cure and the meetnes of the party ; and that the 
sayde ministers, if they remoove fix>m one dioces to an- 
other, bee by no means admitted to serve without testi- 

30 monye of the diocesan, from whence they come, in writing 
of theyre honesty and ability. 

Item, That the bysshop doe call home once in the yeare 
any prebendary in his churche, or beneficed in the dioces, 
whiche studieth at the universities, to know how he pro- 

u8 



294 For due order m the public cuHministraium [LXV. 

fiteth ill learninge, and that he be not suffered to bee a 
servinge or a waytinge man dissolutely. 

Item, That at the archedeacon's yisitation the arche- 
deacon shall appoynte the curates to certaine taxes of 
the Newe Testamente to bee conde without booke. 5 
And at theire nexte synode to exact a rehearsall of 
them. 

Item, That the churchewardens once in the quarter 
declare by theire curates in billes subscribed with their 
handes to the ordinarye or to the nexte officer under 10 
him, who they bee, whiche will not readyly paye theire 
penalties for not comminge to Goddes divine service 
accordingly. 

Item, That the ordinaries doe use good diligente ex- 
amination to foresee all simoniacall pactes or covenaunts 15 
with the patrons or presenters for the spoyle of their 
glebe, tithes, or mansion houses. 

Item, That no persons be suffered to marye within the 
Leviticall degrees mentioned in a table, set forthe by the 
archebysshoppe of Caunterburye in that behalfe anno«o 
Domini M.d.lxiii ; and if any suche be, to be separated by 
order of lawe. 

Articles far outwarde apparell of persofis ecclesiastically 

Firste, That all archebysshoppes and bysshoppes do 
use and contineue their accustomed apparell. 45 

Item, That all deanes of cathedrall churches, masters 
of colledges, all archedeacons, and other dignities in car 
thedrall churches, doctors, bachelers of divinitye and 
lawe, having any ecclesiasticall livinge, shall weaie in 
their common apparell abrode a syde gowne with sleeves 30 
streyght at the hand without any cuttes in the same ; and 
that also without any fallinge cape ; and to weare typpets 
of sarcenet, as is lawfuU for them by thact of parliamemt 
" anno xxiv. Hen. octavi". 



1564.] of ctmimon praffer 0mI tl^ holy $aer^^ 295 

Item, That all doctors of physicke, or of any other 
facultye, having any livinge ecclesiastically or any other 
that may dispende by the churche one hundred markes, 
so to be estemed by the finiites or tenthes of their promo- 
5 tions, and all prebendaries, whose promotions be valued 
at twenty pound or upward, weare the like apparell. 

Item, That they and all ecclesiastical persons or other, 
havinge any ecclesiasticall livinge, doe weare the cappe 
appointed by the injunctions. And they to weare no 
lohattes but in their joumeinge. 

Item, That they in their joumeinge do weare theire 
clokes with sleeves put on, and lyke in fashion to their 
gownes without gards, welts, or cuts. 

Item, That in their private houses and studies they use 
15 their owne liberty of comely apparrelL 

Item, That all inferiour ecclesiastical persons shall 
weare longe gownes of the fashion aforesayde, and cappes 
as before is prescribed. 

Item, That all poore parsons, vicars, and curates do 
20 endevor themselves to conforme theire apparrell in like 
sprte so soone and as convenientley, as theire ability will 
serve to the same. Provided that their abilitye bee 
judged by the bysshop of the dioces. And yf theire 
abilitye will not suffer to buye them longe gownes of the 
n forme afore prescribed, that then they shall weare their 
shorte gownes agreable to the forme before expressed. 

Item, That al suche persons, as have ben or be eccle- 
siasticall, and serve not the minysterie, or have not 
accepted, or shall refuse to accepte, the othe of obedience 
30 to the queenes majesty, doe fix>m hencefourth abrode 
weare none of the sayde apparrell of the forme and 
fashion aforesayde, but to go as mere layemen, till they 
be reconciled to obedience; and who shall obstinately 
refuse to do the same, that they bee presented by the 
35 ordinarye to the commissioners in causes ecclesiasticall, 
and by them to be reformed accordingly, 

u4 



^96 On e(mmon prayer and hofy mKTMimiti. [LXV. 



Protestations to be made^ promised, and subscribed by them 
tliat shall hereafter bee admitted to any office, roomCy or 
cure in any churche, or other place ecdesiasticaU. 

Inprimis, I shall not preache or pubUquely interprete, 
but onely reade that, whiche is appointed by publique s 
authoritye, without special licence of the bysshope under 
his seale. 

I shall reade the service appoynted playnly, distinctly, 
and audibly, that all the people may heare and under- 
stande. «<> 

I shall keepe the register booke accordinge to the 
queenes majesties injunctions. 

I shall use sobrietie in apparrel, and specially in the 
churche at common prayers, according to order ap- 
pointed. »5 

I shall move the parishioners to quiet and Concorde, 
and not geve them cause of offence, and shall helpe to 
reconcile them, whiche be at variaunce, to my uttermorte 
power. 

I shall reade daylie at the leaste one chapter of the Old ^ 
Testament, and one other of the Newe, with good ad^im- 
ment to thincrease of my knowledge. 

I do also faithfully promise in my person to use and 
exercise my office and place to the honor of God, to the 
quiet of the queenes subjects within my charge, in truth, «5 
Concorde, and unitye. And also to observe, kepe, and 
menta3ne suche order and uniformity in all external po- 
licye, rites, and ceremonies of the church, as by the lawes 
good usages and orders are already well provided and 
established. 3® 

I shall not openlye intermeddle with any artificers oe- 
cupations, as covetously to seke a gayne thereby, havinfe 



1564.] Quern EHzabMs hiter for 9$ufH^ 9fidiii(^ 997 

in ecclesiaatical lyvinge to the somme of 20. nobles or 
above by yere. 

Agreed upon, and subscribed by 



Matthaeus Cantuariensis 
Edmundus Londinensis 
Richardus Eliensis 
Edmundus RofFensis 
Robertus Wintoniensis 
Nicolaus Lincolniensis 



Commissioners in causes 
ecclesiastical!, with 
others. 



LXVI. 



Archiepisc Cant. 
Matth. Pakkeb 7. 



AnnoChrirti 



Reg. Anffim 
Elizas. S. 



Queen Elizabeth's letter to the bishop of London/or seizing 
seditious books transported from beyond sea. Strype's 
Annals, vol. i. App. p. 74r. 

By the queene. 

T> YGHT reverend father in God, right trustie and wel 

beloved, we grete you well. Where we be geven 

to understand, that certain unnatural and seditious sub- 



Queen Elizabeth's letter] " Now were many of the English popish 
<5 recusants become fugitives abroad in Flanders, and particularly in Ant- 
werp and Louvain, and in other places in the king of Spain's do- 
minions. Here they employed themsehres in writing very dangeroos 
and seditious books against the queen^ and her government; whifih 
when they had printed, they caused to be conveyed over hither, and 
3o privily dispersed abroad ; which had perverted many of the ignorant 
people, and made them nm into disorders.'' Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. a. 
pp. 182. 529. 



898 Q. EUzabeOCs letter far seizmff sediHem hoete. [LXVI. 

jects of this our realme being fled out of the same, and 
ly ving on the other side of the seas, ceasse not contynu- 
ally to contrive and send over hither sundry seditious and 
slanderous books, to be spredde abrode here, partely for 
there own private gayne, but especially to move the igno- 5 
rant people to disorder; a thing very requisite to be 
looked unto, as being merely against all good order and 
policy of this our state, and contrary also to the statutes 
and laws of this our realme ; we lett you wete, that con- 
sidering the most parte of those slaunderous books be 10 
brought in by such vessells, as arryve within our porte of 
London, of which place you are the chief pastor and 
bishoppe ; and waying withall that you are one of our 
commissioners for matters ecclesiasticall ; we have 
thought good to appointe you specially to have regarde is 
hereunto. And for the better dealing therein, we have 
given order to our high treasourer of England expressly 
by our letters, that he shall suffer suche one or mo 
persons of discretion, as you shall appointe for this pur- 
pose, to resorte to our Custome house of London, as any «o 
ship or vessell shall come in from time to time, and ther 
to syt with our customers and other officers, for the 
serche and perfecte understanding of the state of suche 
bookes, and as anye suche shall be found to be brought 
to your handes, to th'intent that upon the considering of n 
the same, you may do with them, as to your discretion 
shall be thought good. And further call before you and 
examine all suche persons, as you shall finde faultie 
herein, or in any wise to be suspected ; and upon due 
tryall of his faulte to cause him to be punished, as the y> 
lawes of this our realme will permit, or otherwise in 
reason shalbe thought fyt. And yf you shall think yt 
requisite to have the like order in any other porte ; we 
have also given commaundment to our said treasourer to 
cause the same to be executed, upon the notice to be ^ 
given from you, and the diocessan of the place ; requiring 



1566.] The arekiiskop's leUerfar eamformi^. 999 

you therefore to take some care herein, and to make 
some speciall choyse of the men, that you shall appoincte 
hereunto, bothe for their discretion, and also for their 
diligence, in suche sorte, as we may perceive some good 
5 to grow by this our order, for the redress of these evU 
practises. And thes our letters shal be your sufficient 
warrant in this behalf. Yeven under our signet at our 
palace of Westminister the 24th day of January, in the 
eighth yere of our reigne. 



LXVII. 

Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Chrifti Reg. Anglia 

Matth. Parker 8. 1566. Elizab. 9. 

The archbishop's letter to the bishop of London for con- 
formitie. Reg. Parker, i. fol. 256. b. 

10 T> IGHT well beloved brother, after my right hartie 
commendations in our Saviour Christ. Whereas 

The archbishop* 8 letter] The general sentiments of bishop Grindal on 
the subject of the habits, and his unwillingness to take decided mea- 
sures against the non-conformists, are well known. (See Strype, Grind. 

15 pp. 154. 446. Parker, vol. i. p. 430. Neal's Puritans, voL i. pp. 136. 
224.) But he had now fortified himself with the opinions of Bulling^ and 
Gualter, whose authority was respected in England beyond that of any 
other divines of their time ; and soon afterwards, for the purpose of making 
the same impression upon others, he published a private letter of theirs 

10 in which they had recommended Sampson and Humphreys, two of the 
most eminent of the non-conformists, to comply. (Burnet, H. R. vol. 
iii. p. 591. P. 2. p. 427. CoUier, vol. ii. p. 508.) He himself ex- 
pressed his sentiments to Bullinger in August 1566. in the foUowing 
manner : " When they who had been exiles in Germany could not per- 

25 suade the queen and parliament to remove these habits out of the 
church, though they had long endeavoured it, by common consent they 
thought it best not to leave the dmrch for some rites, wUdi were not 



300 ThB orMMop's letter /or cm/brmiif. [LXVII. 

you do well know what offense is taken, for that diveiw 
and sundry of the state ecclesiastical be so hardlie in- 
duced to conformitie, in administration of public prayers 
and sacraments, and in outward apparell, agreable, in 
regard of order, for them to weare, notwithstanding esta- 5 
blished, and other orders and ordinances prescribed in the 
same ; in which disorder appeareth (as is commonlie in- 
terpreted) a manifest violation and contempte of the 
quenes majesties authoritie, and abusing her princely 
clemency in so long bearinge with the same, without ex- lo 
ecution of condigne severitie for there due correction, if 
the lawes were extendid uppon them : and whereas the 
whole state of the realme, by acte of Parliament openly 
published, doth most emestly in God's name require us 
all to endeavour ourselves, to the utmost of our know- 15 
ledge, duely and truely to execute the said lawes, as we 
will answer before God ; by the which acte also, we have 
full power and authoritie to reform, and punish by cen- 
sures of the churche all and singuler persones, which shall 
offende; and whereas also the quenes most excellent so 
majestic, now a yere past and more, addressed her high* 
ness lettres enforcing the same charge, the contents 
whereof I sent unto your lordship in her name and au- 
thoritie, to admonish them to obedience, and so I dowt 
not but your lordship have distributed the same unto <5 
other of our brethren within this province of Canterbuiye ; 

many nor in themselves wicked ; especially since the purity of the 
Gospel remained safe and free to them. Nor had they to this present 
time repented themselves of this counsel." (Str3rpe, Grind, p. 156. 
Collier, vol. ii. App. p. 96.) This letter of archhishop Fterker's was jo 
written after the memorahle sentence of suspension passed by him npoa 
thirty-seven of the London clergy, and was accompanied with a copy of 
the " Advertisements" (No. LXV) which the archbishop had recently 
corrected, and now republished, alleging the act of uniformity (1 Elis. 
c. 2. §. 16.) as his justification, but acting under the queen's positive 55 
command, for his proceedings against the London clergy. Strype» 
Parker, vol. i. pp. 427. 430. 



1566.] Tke artMishop's letter /or ean/crmify. 801 

whereuppon hath ensued in the most part of the reakn 
an humble and obedient conformitie, and yet some few 
persons, I fear more scrupulous than godly prudent, have 
not conformed themselves ; peradventure some of them 

5 for lack of particular description of orders to be followed^ 
which as your lordship doth know, were agreed upon 
amonge us long agoe; and yet in certeine respects not 
published now for the spedy reformation of the same, as 
the queues highness hath expressly charged both you and 

10 me of late. Being therefore cauled to her presence to 
see her lawes executid, and good orders decreed and ob- 
served, I can no less do of my obedience to Almighty 
God, of my allegiance to her princely estate, and of sin<» 
cere zeal to the truth and promotion of Christian religicm 

>5 now established, but require and charge you, as you will 
answer to God, and to her majestic, to see her nugestiea 
lawes and injunctions duely observed within your dice. 
and allso theis our convenient orders described in theis 
bookes, at theis present sent unto your lordship ; and fur-> 

3o thermore to transmitt the same bookes with your lettees 
(according as hath been heretofore used) unto all others 
of our brethren within this province, to cause the same to 
be performid in then* severall jurisdictions and ehmiges. 
And where we have of late the 26th day of thffl present 

25 monthe of March, called before us, according to the 
quenes majesties commandement in this behalf signified, 
all manner of parsons, vicars, and curates servinge within 
the citye of London, and have commanded divers of them 
in their obedience, who have considered their duties in 

30 this behalf; so have we also from this day fourth, suspendid 
all ministers expressly refusing conformitie from their 
public ministration whatsoever, and have also denounced 
sequestration of all the iruites of ther levinges so long 
tyme as they shall remayne in this disobedience ; signify- 

35 ing further, that if within the space of three moneths, 
from thence next ensuing this advertisement, either any 



302 The archbishop's letter for conformity. [LXVII. 

of them do attempt to offend in the like disobedience, 
and be therefore convicted by the notorious evidence of 
the facte, or shall continue without reconciling of them- 
selves, and promising and subscribing their conformitie to 
the lawes and orders agreable, to be then deprived " ipso s 
facto" of all ther spiritual promotions in which case it 
may be lawful in due order of lawe to all patrons and 
doners of all and singuler the same spiritual! promotions, 
or any of them, to presente or collate to the same, as 
though the person or persons so defending were dead ; »« 
after which like sort all other ordinaries, after notice 
given unto all persons within their jurisdictions of the 
lawes, injunctions, and other orders established for the 
same conformitie, I think will follow in order the same 
example, whereby we trust all contention and just offence »5 
amongst the queues subjects may at the last be sup- 
pressed, peace, and quietness in unitie of doctrine, and 
uniformitie of exterine behaviours recovered, the queues 
majesties authoritie reverenced, her lawes obediently re- 
garded, to the promotion of the truth of the gospell, and «> 
to the glory of Almighty God, to whom for this tyme I 
committ you in all grace and vertue as my self. Prom 
my house at Lambehith the 28th day of Marche, 

M.D.LXVI. 

Your lovinge brother, 95 

Matthew Cantuar. 



i5($70 AroHidtop Parker's artides o/nriiatim. 80S 



LXVIII. 

Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglw 

Matth. Parker 8. 15^7* Elizab. 9. 

Articles to be enquired of in the metropolitical visitation of 
the most reverend father in God Matthew^ hy the provi-^ 
deuce of God archbishop of Canterbury^ primate of all 
England^ and metropolitan^ in al and sinpdar cathedral 
and collegate churches within his province of Canterbury. 
Strype's Life of Parker, App. p. 85. 

I. THIRST, Whether your dean, archdeacons, and other 
dignities of your church be resydent or not ? whe- 
ther they be graduates ? what other promotions or livings 

Articles to be enquired of] This visitation was more especially di- 
Srected against the diocese of Norwich, which was reported to be in 
great disorder, owing partly to an old custom of allowing seven years 
to intervene between the bishop's visitations, and partly to the known 
forbearance of bishop Parkhurst ; of whom as early as in August 1561 
secretary Cecil wrote to the archbishop in the following words (Strype, 

10 Parker, vol. i. p. 2 14) : " The bishop of Norwich is blamed even of the 
best sort for his remissness in ordering his clergy. He winketh at 
schismatics and anabaptists, as I am informed." The articles themselves. 
although intended primarily for the diocese of Norwich, were strictly ap- 
plicable to the general condition of the church, and afford evidence of 

15 the following facts connected with the progress of its history; that 
puritanism, and not popery, was now the opponent to be dreaded ; that 
the contest with puritanism was now no longer respecting forms and 
ceremonies, but principles and doctrines ; that opinions were inculcated 
adverse to good morals and destructive of church authority ; and lastly, 

20 that the disorders existing in the church had seriously afiected the 
duties owing to the state. (Com. Strype, Parker, vol. i. p. 491. Neal'a 
Purit. vol. i. p. 156.) The first occasion, after holding many private 
meetings, on which the non-conformists assembled together in a distinct 
apartment, in order to have worship and a communion after the ritual 

25 of Geneva, was on the 19th of June 1567. NeaTa Purit. vol. i. p. i6f . 
Collier's Hist. vol. ii. p. 5 1 1 . 



804 AreMisAcp Parker's articlea o/wsUoHon. [LXVIII. 

every one of them hath ? whether every one of them be 
ministers or not? whether they use semely or priestly 
garments, according as they are commanded by the 
quenes majesties injunctions to doe ? 

II. Item, AVhether your prebendaries be resydent, or 5 
how many of them? where every one of the rest be? 
what be their names? what livings they have? what 
orders they be in ? how, or in what apparel they do com- 
monly goe ? whether they do preach in their course ? or 
how often ? and in what time of the yere they do resort lo 
to your cathedral church ? 

III. Item, Whether your divine service be used, and 
your sacraments ministred in manner and forme pre- 
scribed by the quenes majesties injunctions^ and none 
other way ? whether it be said or songe in due time ? is 
whether in al points according to the statutes of your 
church, not being repugnant to any of the quenes majes- 
ties laws or injunctions ? whether al that were wonte be 
bound, or ought to come to yt, do so styl ? and whether 
every one of your church openly communicate in the said »o 
cathedral church, at the least thrice in the yere ? 

IV. Item, Whether your grammar school be wel or- 
dered? whether the number of the children thereof be 
furnished? how many wanteth? and by whose default? 
whether they be diligently and godly brought up in the *s 
fear of God, and wholesome doctrine? whether any of 
them have been received for money or reward, and by 
whom ? whether the statutes, foundations, and other ordi- 
nances touching the same grammar school, and school- 
master, and the scholars thereof, or any other having jo 
doing or interest therein, be kept? by whom it is not 
observed, or by whose fault? and the like in al points 
you shal enquire and present of your choristers and 
master. 

V. Item, Whether al officers and ministers of youris 
church, as wel within as without, do their duties in al 



1567*] Archbishop Parker's articles ofmsikf^cn. 806 

points obediently and faithfully ? and whether your dean, 
stewards, treasurers, pursers, recejrvers, or any officer 
having any charge, or any ways being accomptant to the 
said church, do make a plain, faithftdl, and true accompt 
5 at such days and times, as be Umytted and appointed by 
the statutes, or custome of the said church ; making fiiU 
payment reallie of all arrearages ? whether any mony or 
goods of the church do remaine in any mans hands ? who 
they be ? and what sum remayneth ? 

10 VI. Item, you shall enquyre of the doctrine and judg- 
ment of al and singular hedd and members of your 
church ; as your dean, archdeacons, prebendaries, readers 
of divine service, schoolmasters, vicars, petti-canons, dea- 
cons, conducts, singing men, choristers, schokrs in gram- 

15 mar schools, and al other officers and ministers, as wel 
within your church, as without ; whether any of them 
do either privilie or openlie preach or teach any unwhole^ 
some, erroneous, seditious doctrine, or discourage any 
man from the reading of the holy scriptures soberly for 

no his edifying ; or in any other point do perswade or move 
any not to conform themselves to the order of religion 
reformed, restored, and received by public authority in 
this church of England. As for example, to affirm and 
maintain that the queues majesty, that now is,' and her 

25 successors, kings and queues of this realm of EIngland, is 
not, or ought not to be head, and chief govemour of this 
her people, or church of England, as wel in ecclesiastical 
laws, causes, or matters, as temporal ; or that it is not 
lawfnll for any particular church, or province to alter the 

30 rites and ceremonies publickly used, to better edification; 
or that any man may, or ought by his private authority, 
do the same ; or that any man is to be borne vrith, which 
do extoU any superstitious religion; as reliques, pil- 
grimages, lightings of candles, kifiHsing, kneeling, or duck« 

35 ing to images ; or praying in a tongue not knovm, rather 
than English; or to put trust fo a certain number of 

VOL. I. X 



306 Archbishop Parker's articles ofvi^ati/om. [LXVIII. 

^^ Pater nosters/' or use any beads for the same, or sach 
other things, or to maintain purgatory, private maaseB, 
trentalls, or any other fond fantasy invented by man, 
without groimd of God's vrord ; or to say, teach, or main- 
tain, that children being infants should not be baptised ; 5 
or that every article in our Crede, commonly received and 
used in the church, is not to be believed of necessity ; 
or that mortal or voluntary sins committed after bap- 
tisme, be not remissible by penance ; or that a man, after 
that he have received the Holy Ghost, cannot syn ; or lo 
that afterwards he cannot ryse again by grace to repent- 
ance ; or that any man ly veth without syn ; or that it is 
not lawfull to swear for certain causes; or that civil 
magistrates cannot punish, for certain crimes, a man with 
death ; or that it is lawful for any man, without outward 15 
calling of the magistrates appointed, to take upon him 
any ministry of Christ's church ; or that the word of God 
doth condemne the regiment of women ; or that the word 
of God doth command sole lyfe, or abstinence from 
marriage to any minister of the church of Christ, not «o 
having the gift of God to live sole ; or any other errors, or 
false doctrine, contrary to the faith of Christ and holy 
scriptures. 

VII. Item, You shall enquire of the names and sir- 
names of al and singular the abovenamed members, >5 
officers, ministers of this your said church, whether you 
know, or suspect any of them to attaine his room, or 
lyving by simonie, that is by mony, unlawful covenant, 
gyft, or reward ? who presented him ? whether his lyving 
be in lease ? and by whom it is leased ? to whom ? upon 39 
what rent ? whether he doth pay any pension for it ? for 
what cause ? what sum ? and to whom ? Whether any of 
them be known, or suspected to l)e a swearer, an adul- 
terer, a fornicator, or suspected of any other unclean- 
lines? whether any of them do use any suspect houses 35 
or suspected company of any such faults, any taveme, 



1568.] About stranpers/or pretence of reUffion. 907 

alehouse, or tippling houses, at any unconvenient sea- 
sons ? whether any of them be suspected to be a drunk- 
ard, a dicer, a carder, a brawler, fighter, quarreler, or un- 
quiet person, a carier of tales, a backbyter, slaunderer, 
5 batemaker, or any other ways a breaker of charity or 
unity, or cause unquietness by any means ? 

VIII. Item, Whether you have necessary ornaments 
and books of your church ? whether your church be suffi- 
ciently repaired in al parts ? what stock or annual rent is 

10 appointed toward the reparation of the cathedral church ? 
in whose hands or custody doth it remain ? 

IX. Item, Finally, you shall present what you think 
necessary, or profitable for the church, to be reformed, or 
of new to be appointed, and ordained in the same. 



LXIX. 

Archiepiac. Cant. Anno Chrigti lUg. AngtUs 

Mattr. Parker 9. 1568. Eluab.io. 

Queen Elizabeth's and the archbishop of Canterburjfs or^ 
ders for enquiry what strangers were come into the 
realm for pretence of religion. Reg. Parker i. fol. 270. b. 

15 To the right honourable and my lovinge brother^ the bushop 

of London^ yeve thes. 

A FTER my right hartie commendations unto your 
'^ good lordship premised. Whereas I have of late 

Queen Elizabeth's and the'] This was the third instance in the pre- 
20 sent reign of inquiries being made respecting foreigners, and it was 
rendered necessary by the dangerous opinions, afiecting not merely the 
doctrines of the church, but also the foundations of the civil govern- 
ment, which were entertained by anabaptists and others who fled from 
the persecutions m the Netherlands. There were however many 
25 churches of foreigners in London under the superintendanoe and pro- 
tection of bishop Grindal. Strype, Ptakcr, vol. i. p. 531. Grindal, 
p. 198. Ann. voL i. P. a. p. ayi. 

X 2 



308 On the entrance of strangers into [LXIX- 

receivid the quenes majesties most honourable lettres 
missive, the true tenor whereof hereafter ensueth : 

Most reverend lather in Grod, right trustie and right 
well beloved, we grete you well. Forasmuch as we do 
understand that there do dayly repair into this our realme s 
great numbers of strangers from the partes beyond the 
seas, otherwyse than hath been accustomed; and the 
most parte thereof pretending the cause of there coming 
to be for to lyve in this realm with satisfiEU^tion of ther 
conscience in Christian religion, according to the order lo 
allowed in this our realme ; and doubting lest that amongst 
such numbers, divers may also resorte into our realme, 
that are infectid with dangerouse opinions, contrary to 
the faith of Christ's church, as Anabaptistes, and such 
other sectaris, or that be guilty of some other horrible 15 
crimes of rebellion, murder, roberyes, or such like com- 
mitted by them in the partes from whence they do come, 
to which kjmde of people we do in no wise meane to 
permitte any reftige within our dominions : therefore we 
do will and require you to geve spedy order and com- m 
maundment to the reverend father in God the byshop 
of London, and all other ordinaries of any place, where 
you shall thinke any such confluence of strangers to be 
within your province, that without delaye, speciall and 
particular visitation, and inquisition be made in every 15 
parish for this purpose requisite, of all manner of per- 
sons being strangers borne, of what country, qualitie, and 
estate soever they be, with the probable causes of ther 
coming into this our realme, and the time of ther con- 
tinuance, and in what sort they do lyve, and to what 30 
churches they do resorte for exercise of Christian religion, 
with such other things requisite in this case to be under- 
stonde, for the worthiness of there continuance in this 
our realme ; and therupon to cause perfecte registers to 
be made, and so to continue, and to geve advertisement 35 
to our justices, and ministers of our lay power, to proceed 



1568.] ibs realm for the pretence o/reKgion. 809 

speedily to the trial of such, as shall be found suspectid 
of the foresaid crimes or otherwise, that shall not be con- 
formeable to such order of religion as is agreable to our 
lawes, or as is permitted to places specially appointed for 
5 the resorte of strangers, to the exercise of religion in the 
use of common prayer and the sacraments: and in all 
other things we will and require you to use all good dili- 
gence and provision, by the meanes of the bysshopes and 
ordinaries under you, as well in places exempte as other- 

10 wise, that no manner of strangers be suffered to remayn 
within any part of our dominions in your province, but 
such as shall be knowne or commonly reputed to be of 
Christian conversation, and meate to lyve under our pro- 
tection, according to the treatis of entercours betwixt us 

«5 and other princes our neighbours. Yeoven under our sig- 
net at our manner of Grenewiche the 18th day of May, 
M.D.LXViii. the tenth yere of our reign. Thes shall be 
therfore in the queues majesties name to will and require 
your lordship, that having regard (as I doubt not but you 

20 will) to the execution of the queues majesties said lettres 
within your own diocess, you do also forthwith signifie 
the tenor thereof to all and singuler my brethren, the 
other bishops and other ordinaries within my province 
where you shall thinke any confluence of strangers to be ; 

15 willing and commanding them, and every of them, in the 
queues majesties name, without delaye to cause the tenor 
of her majesties said lettres to be executed through every 
of ther several diocesses and jurisdictions, as well in 
places exempt as not exempt, as to them and every of 

30 them shall appertayne. And thus I byd your lordship 
most hartely well to fEure as mjrself. From my house at 
Lambehith the 24th of May, m D.LXVin. 



x8 



310 On the entrance of strangers, 6f€, [LXIX. 

The articles of inquiry were as follow : 

Articles inquired of in the serche for the number of 
straungers tcithi?i the city of London^ and about the 
same, in the months of November and December last 
pasty viz. anno Domini m.d.lxvii. s 

I. First, You shall inquire how many straungers and 
aliens, as well men, as women and children, are dwelling 
and resyent, or abiding within your severall parishes ; and 
of what nation they be ? 

II. Item, How long every of them have been dwellyng «o 
or abyding there, and what the names of every of them 
are, and about what time every of them came first 
hither ? 

III. Item, Of what trade, lyving, or occupation they 
be, and how many of them are vehemently suspected or 15 
defamed of any evil lyving, or to be setters forward or 
favourers of any naughtie religion or sect ? 

IV. Item, Whether they do resorte to their parish 
churches to hear divine service, and to receave the sacra- 
ments, as others of the parishioners do, or are bounds 
to do? 

V. Item, How many of them absent themselves fix)m 
theyr said several parish churches, and what their names 
be? 

VI. Item, How many of them resorte to their 45 
churches appointed for straimgers here in the city of 
London ? 



15*^9 J Reereationa to he tolerated on Sunday. 311 



LXX. 

ArchiepisG. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglie 

Matth. Pabker io. 1569. Elijsab. If. 

A licetice for severaU recreations on Sunday toUerated by 
queen Elizabeth. Ex Apographo in Prsefat. Tho. Heamii 
ad Cambden. Elizab. p. 28. 

To all majorSy shereffes^ constables^ and other hed officers 

within the countie of Middlesex?. 

A FTER our hartie commendations. Whereas we are 
enformed that one John Seconton Powlter, dwell- 
5 inge within the parishe of St. Clementes Daines, beinge 
a poore man, havinge foure small children, and fidlen 
into decaye, ys lycensed to have and use some playes 
and games at or uppon nyne severall Sondaies for his 
better releif, comforte and sustentacion, within the 

I o countie of Middlesex, to comense and begynne at and 
from the 22d dale of Maye next comynge after the date 
hereof, and not to remajme in one place not above thre 
severall Sondaies; and, we consideringe that great re- 
sorte of people is lyke to come thereunto, we will and 

15 require you as well for good order, as also for the pre* 
servation of the queues majesties peace, that you take 
with you foure or fyve of the discrete and substanciall 
men within your office or liberties, where the games shal 
be put in practise, then and there to foresee and doo 

^oyour endevor to your best in that behalf duringe the 
contjmuance of the games or playes, which games are 
hereafter severallie mencyoned; that is to saye, the 
shotinge with the standerd, the shpti^ge with the brode 

A licence for several] For the sports and pastimes mentioned in this 
H license, see Ascham's Toxoph. p. 109. ed. 1788. Stratt's Sp. and 
Past. p. 56, &c. ed. 1810. Stab's Anatomie of Abuses, p. 134. 

x4 



Letta- about t^provmon o/armi 



[LXXI. 



airowe, the shotinge at the twelve skore prick, die 
shotinge at the Turke, the leppinge for men, the mn- 
ninge for men, the wrastlinge, the throwinge of the 
sledge, and the pytchinge of the barre, with all suche 
other games as have at any time heretofore, or now be s 
licensed, used, or played. Yeoven the 26th daie of 
April in the eleventh yere of the quenes majiestie's 
raigne. 



LXXI. 



Anno ChrutI 
IJ69. 



The archbishop's letter to t/te bishop of London about the 
provision of arms to be made by the ciergy. — Reg. 
Parker, i. fol. 278. a. 

A FTER my bartie commendations unto your good 
lordship premised. I have of late received (as your 10 

The arcMiihop't letter] The estensive conipirocy created \rf the 
duke of Norfolk, followed b; the rebellion which broke out in the 
north under the earls of Northumberland and Weetmoreliuid, and the 
several attempti that were made for the liberation of the Scotluh 
queen, occasioned great alarm at the court of Elizabeth, and led to ij 
every possible measure of prudence and self-defence. " I find," aajm 
Strype, " in one of the archbishop's MSS. in the Bene't coBeg^ libniy, 
that this following was the way propounded of laying the charge of 
tumour on the clergy. 







% 


Co™l«. 


str 


Pike 


hUS 


Shf»n 


TifX 


BiKkBHlI 


==- 


i 






















200 




1 


? 


1 


•}. 


2 


2 




1 


i 


lUO 


\t^i 


1 


1 


1 


2 


2 


2 








40 






'2 




1 


1 


1 


1 




e 


30 


y 
1 




i 




2 


2 


2 


1 





" The archbishop taxed himself at six horse with armonr ; ta> light m 
horse with their furniture ; forty corslets ; forty Ahsain rivets ; fiv^ 



15^9*] ^<> ^ nuteh 2y the dergy. 818 

lordship knoweth) commandment from the quenes high- 
ness, and her honorable privy councill, to take order for 
a certain view to be had, and with spede certified, of 
armour to be provided by the clergy of the province of 
5 Cant, according to the proportion and rate prescribed 
and used in the tyme of the raigne of the late king and 
queen, king Philippe and queen Mary, which rate and 
proportion is to theis lettres in a schedule annexed ; 
these are to will and requier your lordship to geve order 

lo as well to the clergy of your own dioces, for the reddy 
performance of the same, as also to signifie the said 
commandment to the residewe of my brethren, the other 
bysshopes of my province of Cant, willing and command- 
ing them, and every of them, forthwith to accomplish 

15 her highness said commandment in every ther several 
dioceses and jurisdictions, as to them and ther bounden 
dueties appertajmeth, and the same view by them and 
every of them so taken, according to the said rate and 
proportion, spedely to certifie unto me at Lambehith, 

ao with the names, surnames, and promotions of all that, 
according to the said schedule, be chargeable vrith any 
such provision. And thus I byd your lordship most 
hartely well to fare as my self. From my house at 
Lambehith the 6th of May, M.D.LXIX. 

'5 Whereas the lordes of the quenes majesties most 
honorable privye counsaile have geven commaundment 
for the provision of armour and other furniture by the 
clergie of this realm, according to such order and ratefif, 
as was used in the tyme of the late king Philippe and 

30 queen Mary, the several rates and order then used in 

that behalf are hereafter particularly specified ; videlicet 

That every one of the cleigie having landes, or pos- 



pikes ; thirty long bows ; thirty sheaves of arrows ; thirty steel caps ; 
twenty black bills ; twenty harqaebuts; and twenty numons.** Strype, 
35 Parker, vol. i. pp. 543, 544. Comp. Lingard^ voL v. p. a88. 



814 Letter aiaui thepriwigUM i^afm$ by the elergy. [LXXI. 

sessions of estate of enheritage of freholde, shall jHroyide 
and find, and be chargeble with armour, horses, and 
other furniture in such sort, and in manner, and forme, 
as every temporal] man is charged, by reason of his 
landes and possessions, by vertue of the statute made in 5 
the fourth and fifth yeres of the reignes of the late king 
Philippe and queen Mary. 

Item, That every one of the said clergie, having bene- 
fits, spiritual promotions or pensions, the clere value 
whereof, either by themselves, or jojmed together, do 10 
amounte to the clere yerely value of xxx/. or upwards, 
shall be bound and charged to provide, have, and mayn- 
tejne armour, and other provision requisite, according 
to such proportion and rate, as the temporaltie are bound 
and charged by the said statute, by reason of their 15 
moveable goodes. 

Item, If any of the clergie of this realm have both 
temporal] landes and possessions, and also spiritual pro- 
motions, he shall be charged with armour and other 
provision according to the greatest rate of one of them, 10 
and not with both. 

Observations in rating the proportion of armour. 

I. Furst, The bushop to rate himself amongest the 
temporaltie for landes. 

II. Secondly, To rate the dean and prebendaries, asis 
the temporaltie, for goods from xxx/. upwards. 

III. Item, To rate the whole diocess in like sorte. 

IV. Item, To accompte such as be resident within the 
diocess under the sonmie of xxx/. and yet having bene- 
fices or pensions elsewhere to make up the same somme jo 
or upwardes, to be rated there amonge the supplies. 

V. Item, To rate every incumbent where he is resi- 
dent, and every ordinarie chaplain not resident, in the 
diocess where he serveth. 



^5^9'] Leti«r of the eotmcU, ^. 815 



Lxxn. 

Archiepiso. Cant. Anno Chriiti B«g. Anglia 

Matth. Parker io. ^5^* Elizab. ii. 

Letter of the council to the archbishop of Canterbury abatU 
the recovering the discipline of the church. — Ex originali 
in Sylloge Epist. annex. Tito Livio Foro-Juliensi 
edit. Hearn. p. 179. seq. 

A FTER our very heartie commendations to your good 
lordship. The queen's mi^estie of late in conference 

Letter of the council] Strype, Parker, toL L p. 557. The earnest 
admonitioiis given in this letter on the subject of preaching, were 
5 occasioned not merely by the great exertions made equally at tiiis 
period by papists and puritans, and the danger in which the civil 
government was then placed, but also by the recent silencing of many 
of the most active preachers on account of their non-conformity. The 
severe tone of reprehension adopted towards the bishops, was in ac- 

10 cordance with the general spirit of the times, which found matter of 
accusation against them in various causes, but more especially in the 
coarse treatment they experienced from the court, in the odium they 
contracted from the queen's extreme love of discipline, and the un- 
reasonable impatience that was felt at the slow progress of general 

15 improvement. This spirit is abundantly shewn in the preamble of the 
statute 13 EHiz. c. 10, which charges ecclesiastics ¥rith the spoUatkm 
of church property, in the persecution sustained by archbiBhop Sandys 
in his northern province, and in the frequent i^ppeals that were made 
by the bishops to Cecil and Walsingham for support and protection. 

20 And doubtless there were cases in which severe reprehension was fnUy 
deserved ; for it is on record that bishop Scambler was translated from 
Peterborough to Norwich on account of the readiness he had shewn 
to assist in the plunder of the church. (Wharton's Observ. on Strype's 
Cranm. p. 1055.) But the just and honest view of the subject may 

25 be given in the following words of lord Bacon, written near the dose 
of Elizabeth's reign. " It is the double policy of the spiritual enemy 
cither by counterfeit holiness of life to establish and anthcnrize errors, 
or by corruption of manners to discredit and draw in question troth 
and things lawful. This concemetfa my lords the bishops, unto whom 



316 Letter of the council about the [LXXII. 

with us upon the state of this her realm, among other 
things meet to be reformed, is moved to think, that uni- 
versally in the ecclesiastical government the care and 
diligence, that properly belongeth to the oflSce of bishops, 
and other ecclesiastical prelates and pastors of this church ^ 
of England, is of late years so diminished and decayed, 
as no small number of her subjects, partly for lack of 
diligent teaching and information, partly for lack of cor- 
rection and reformation, are entered either into danger- 
ous errors, or into a manner of life of contempt or 15 
libertie, without use or exercise of any rite of the church, 
openly forbearing to resort to their parish churches, 
where they ought to use common prayers, and to learn 
the will of God by hearing of sermons, and consequently 
receive the holy sacraments. Of the increase of which is 
lamentable disorders her majestic conceiveth great grief 
and offence, and therefore hath expresly charged us to 
enquire the truth hereof by all good means possible, and 
to provide speedily for the reformation and remedie 
hereof. Whereupon according to her majesties chaige, ^ 
and as we find it very requisite of our own dueties, as 
well towards Almighty God, as to her majestic and our 
countrey, we have entered into a further consideration 
hereof; and though we find a concurrencie of many 
causes, whereupon such general disorders and contempts n 
have of late years grown and encreased, (the remedie 

I am witness to myself that 1 stand affected as 1 ought. No contra- 
diction hath supplanted in me the reverence that 1 owe to their calling ; 
neither hath any detraction or calumny imbased mine opinion of their 
persons. 1 know some of them, whose names are most pierced ¥nth Jo 
these accusations, to be men of great virtues ; although the indispo- 
sition of the times, and the want of correspondence many myn, k 
enough to frustrate the best endeavours in the edifying of the chnrdi. 
And for the rest, generally, 1 can condemn none. 1 am no jodge of 
them that belong to so high a Master: neither have 1 ' two ¥ritne88et.' S5 
And 1 know it is truly said of fame, ' Pariter facta atque infecta cme- 
bat.'" Advertisement on Church Controversies, Works, voL iL p. 507. 



1569.] discipline of ike church. 817 

whereof we mean to seek and procure by as many other 
good meanes as we can) yet certainly we find no one 
cause hereof greater, nor more manifest, than an uni- 
versal oversight and negligence (for less we cannot term 

5 it) of the bishops of the realm, who have not only pecu- 
liar possessions, to find, provide, and maintain officers, 
but have also jurisdiction over all inferior ministers^ 
pastors, and ciuutes, by them to enquire or be informed 
of these manner of contempts and disorders, and by 

10 teaching and correction to reform them ; or if the of- 
fenders should for any respect appear incorrigible, 
thereof to make due information to her majestic, as 
the supream governor under God of the whole realme. 
And surely, though we know, that some of the bishops 

15 of the realme are to be more commended than some 
other, for preaching, teaching, and visiting of their 
diocese, yea and for good hospitality, and other good 
examples of life ; yet at this time doubting, that a great 
part of the realm in sundrie places is touched with 

10 the infection of these disorders, tho* some more, some 
less, and (as we fear) no bishoprick fully free : we have 
therefore necessarily concluded to notifie to every one 
of the bishops alike this her miyesties carefullnefls 
and desire to have her realm herein reformed, and for 

IS that purpose at this present, to seek the understanding of 
every diocese in certain points thereafter following. And 
therefore we vrill and require your lordship in her ma- 
jestie's name, that first ye vdll earnestly conceive, and 
thankfully allow, of this her m^jestie's godly disposition, 

30 and next that yow do circumspectly and as quietly as 
yow may (without any manner of proceeding, likely to 
breed public offence) enquire or cause to be enquired by 
such, as are faithful officers, and not dissemblers, what 
persons they be, and of what qualitie, d^free, and name^ 

35 that have not of late time resorted to their parish 
churches within your diocese, or have not used the oom^ 



318 Letter of ths a>WM!%l ahmU the [LXXIL 

moil prayers, according to the lawes of the realm, or haTe 
not at usual times received the holy sacrament, and how 
long they have forbom. And furtlier also we require to 
be advertised, what ecclesiastical public oflScers yow have 
under your lordship in your diocese, who they be,- what 5 
their names and degrees, ordained to see to the execution 
of the laws of the church. Likewise what preachers yow 
have, properly for the more part conversant with yourself 
in your houshold, and what other preachers residing 
abroad in your diocese, and what ecclesiastical livings 10 
every of them hath, with the values thereof, or what 
other stipends they have, wherewith they have any main- 
tenance or suRtentation to continue in the functions. 
Likewise we require yow by authority of these our letters 
to conferr with the dean and chapter of your cathedral 15 
church, and with the heads of any other collegiate church 
in your diocese, or with any other persons having any 
peculiar jurisdiction within your diocese, and cause them 
to certifie distinctly by writing, what number of pre- 
bendaries, canons, and preachers they have, which do to 
reside within the said churches and jurisdictions, and how 
many do not reside, and how many of them do, and not 
use to preach, and what be their names and degrees, and 
in like sort the names and degrees of them, that have any 
sustentation in their churches to preach, and yet do not 35 
reside, nor do preach. And likewise we desire to be ad- 
vertised, what churches or places ordained to have com- 
mon prayer, are by any meanes presently void of curates, 
and in whose default the same happeneth, and in what 
sort yow think the same may be best remedied. Andjo 
whilst yow shall be occupied in the inquisition hereof, 
wherein we would have yow use all good diligence; we 
heartily and earnestly require your lordship, as yow would 
be counted worthy of your calling, to employ all your 
care and industry in procuring more diligent preaching 35 
and teaching within your diocese, as well by your self, at 



15^9*] discipline of the church. 819 

by all others having the gift to preach : and therein to 
use all charitable means by diligent instruction and fiedth- 
ful teaching and example of life, to stay the good, faith- 
ful; and obedient subjects in their duties, and to induce 

5 and perswade others to return from their disorders and 
errors, so as all parties may observe their duties in the 
public and open service of Almighty God, according to 
his ordinance, and as by the conmion order of the realm 
is for God's honour established. And whatsoever your 

>o lordship shall think meet and needful to be granted or 
devised for your furder assistance, thereof to advertise us, 
whom yow shall find ready to add and satisfie yow as &rr 
forth, as we shall find in our powers reasonable, either by 
our selves, or by meanes to her majestie, whom we per- 

»s ceive earnestly disposed to have the glory of Grod in- 
crease, by the due reverence of all her subjects in his 
service, according to his blessed word and command- 
ment. And thus we bid your good lordship well to fare. 
From Windsore 6^ of November, m.dxxix. 

^° Your lordship's loving friends^ 

N. Bacon Cane. W. Howard. 

F. Bedford. R. Sadleir. 

E. Clynton. F. KnoUys. 

W. Northt. Wa. Mildmay. 

25 R. Leicester. W. Cecil. 

Postscript : We pray your lordship not to delay the 
answering to us with speed the names of the recusants to 
come to church, without delaying for the rest, and to 
procure the like certificates of these matters from the 
30 bishopricks of Chichester and Oxford now vacant, and to 
that end to send them a copie of these our letters, with 
special charge to see the same accomplished. 



320 ArcNmkop Parker's visitation artidet. [LXXIII< 



LXXIII. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Anglue 

Matth. Parker i i. 1569. Elizab. is. 

Articles to be enquired of within the diocese of Conter- 
burxfy in the ordinarie visitation of the moste reverende 
fat/ier in God Matthew^ by the providence of God arche-- 
byshop of Canterbury^ primate of all Englande and 
metropolitane^ in the yeare of oure Lorde Grod m.dxxix. 
Ex Reg. Parker, i. fol. 302. a. 

T NPRIMIS, Whether divine service be sayde or songe 
by youre minister or ministers in your severall churches 
duely and reverently, as it is set forth by the lawes of 
this realme, without any kinde of variation. And whe- 
ther the holy sacramentes be likewise ministred reverently 5 
in such manner, as by the lawes of this realme, and by 
the queue's majesties injimctions, and by thadvertise- 
mentes set forthe by publike authority is appointed and 
prescribed. 

II. Item, Whether you have in youre paryshe churches lo 
all things necessary and requisite for common prayer and 
administration of the sacraments, specially the booke of 
common prayer, the Bible in the largest volume, the 
homilyes, with the paraphrases of Erasmus, ^a convenient 
pulpit wel placed, a comly and decent table for the holy 15 

Articles to be enquired] This visitation was made by comimnioii 
granted to the sufiragan of Dover and others, and seems to have been 
occasioned by the preceding letter of the comicil. Among the Dew m- 
quiries are (art. 16) " Whether there be in yom* quarters any that 
openly or privily use or frequent any kind of divine service or common m 
prayer, other than is set forth by the laws of the realm/' and (art. 18) 
" whether there be any that keep any secret conventicles, preadiings, 
lectures or readings, contrary to the laws." Comp. Strype, Furker, 
vol i. p. 562. 



1569O ArcMisAcp Parker' % visiMum ariiole$. 8Xi 

communion covered decently, and set in place prescribed 
by the quene*s majesties injunctions, the cheste or 
boxe for the poore men, and al oth^ thinges necessary in 
and to the premisses. And whether your aulters bee 
5 taken downe, accordinge to the commaimdemente in that 
bebalfe geven, 

III. Item, Whether youre prestes, curates, or ministers 
do use in the time of the celebration of divine service to 
weare a surples, prescribed by the queue's mijestie*s in- 

ro junctions and the boke of common prayer. And whether 
they do celebrate the same divine service in the chauncell 
or in the churche, and do use all rites and orders pre- 
scribed in the boke of common prayer, etc* aad none 
other. 

15 IV. Item, Whether your curates or ministers do pub- 
liquely in theire open churches reade in manner ap- 
pojmted the queue's m^jestie's injunctions and homelies ; 
the aduertisementes lately sette forthe by publique au- 
thoritie. And whether tiie same in all poyntes be duly 

20 observed. 

V. Item, Whether youre curates or ministers or any of 
them do use to minister the sacramente of baptisme in 
basons, or els in the fonte standing in the place accus- 
tomed. And whether the same fonte be decently kepte. 

25 ^ And whether they do use to minister the holye com- 
munion in waferbread according to the queene's nugestie's 
injunctions, or els in common bread. ^ And also vdie- 
ther they do minister in any prophane cuppes, bowles, 
dishes, or chalices heretofore used at maase, or els in a 

30 decent communion cuppe provided and kept for the same 
purpose only. And whether the communicants do use to 
rcceyve the holy conmiunion standinge, sittinge, or els 
knealinge. 

VL Item, Whether ymages and al other monuments 

35 of ydolatry and superstition be destroyed and abolyshed 
in your several paryshes. And whetiier your churches 

VOL. I. Y 



S22 Archbishop Parker's visitatum articles. [LXXIII. 

and chauncels be well adorned and conveniently kept 
without waste, destruction, or abuse of anye thinge. 
Whether the roode lofte be pulled downe, according to 
the order prescribed : and if the partition betweene the 
chauncell and the churche be kepte. Whether youres 
churchyardes be well fenced and cleanly kepte. Whether 
anye sale have been made of youre churche goods, by 
whom and to whom, and what hathe been done with the 
moneye thereof commyng. Whether youre chauncels 
and parsonages be well and sufficiently repaired. Whe- to 
ther any man have pulled downe or discovered any 
church, chauncel, chappel, almeshouse, or suche like, or 
have plucked downe the bells, or have felled or spoyled 
any wood or timber in any churchyarde. 

VII. Item, Whether there be any parsons, that in- 15 
trude themselfe, and presume to exercise any kinde of 
mynistery in the churche of God without imposition of 
handes and ordinary aucthority. Whether theire churche 
or chappell be served with any readers. Or whether 
any minister do remove from any other diocese to serve «o 
in this without letters testimoniall of the ordinary from 
whome he came, to testify the cause of his departynge 
thence and of hys behaviour. Or any beinge once preist 
or minister, that dothe not minister or frequente and re- 
sorte to the common prayer now used, and at tymes ap- 15 
poynted communicate. And whether anye suche do goe 
and boaste himselfe lyke a layman. 

VIII. Item, Whether youre parsons and vicars be resi- 
dente continually upon their benefices. Whether they 
give themselves to devoute prayer, discreate reading of 30 
the scripture, and godly contemplacion, and releave the 
poore charitably to their hability, according to the queen's 
injunctions. Whether they pray for the prosperous estate 
of the queue's majestye, as is prescribed in her graces 
injunctions. ^ 

IX. Item, Whether anye of youre ministers dothe or 



15^9-] ArchHshcp Parker's writaHonarHehi, S28 

hathe admitted any notoriouse sinner or malicious person 
out of charitie, withoute juste penaunce done and recon- 
ciliation had, to receave the holy communion; or any 
that hath not receaved the same accordinge as to a 
5 Christian appertayneth, and by the lawes it is appoynted. 
And whether you do heare or knowe any, tiiat doth use 
to say or heare the private masse, or doe use any othw 
service, then is prescribed by the lawes of this realme. 

X. Item, Whether your ministers doe call uppon 
>o fathers, mothers, and maisters of youthe to bringe them up 

in the feare of Almighty Grod, in obedience and in con- 
venient occupations. Whether they bee peacemakers 
and exhorte the people to obedience to their prince^ and 
to all other that be in authoritie, to charity and mutual 
>5 love among themselves. Whether they geve themselTeB 
to superstition, and bee maintainors of the unleamed 
people in ignoraunce. 

XI. Item, Whether your parsons, vicars, and curates 
be common gameners, hunters, haunters of tavemes or 

20 alehouses, suspected of any notable crime, fiGUiters of for- 
rein poures, letters of good religion, preachers of corrupt 
doctrine, stubbome or disobedient to lawes and orders. 
Whether they be geven to filthy lucre. Whether they 
be light either in exaumple of life, or in unwont and un- 

25 semely apparell. 

XII. Item, Whether anye of your benefices be vacant, 
how longe they have ben vacant, who is patrone. Whe- 
ther there be any laye or temporall men (not beinge 
within orders) or chUdren, or anye other (within age) that 

30 hath or enjoyeth ani benefice or spiritual promotion ; any 
patron that suffereth any benefice to be vacante, and 
taketh the tithes and other fructes to himselfe. 

XIII. Item, Whether your ministers keepe their regis- 
ters well, and do present the copy of them <mce every 

35 yeare by indenture to the ordinary or his officers. And 
teache the articles of the &yth, and the tenne commaunde- 



324 Archbishop Parker's msitatian artides, [LXXIXI. 

mentes, and the Lorde's prayer, aa is prescribed them in 
the catechisme. 

XIV. Item, Whether youre parsons and vicars have 
any other or mo benefices ; where and in what countrey 
they bee: whether they came by them by symony, ors 
other unlawfiil meanes. Whether they do let their 
benefices to farme, or els kepe them in theire owne 
handes. Whether they keepe hospitalitye or not. Whe- 
ther in their absence they leave their cures to honest, 
learned, or expert curates. Whether they make their lo 
ordinarye sermons accordinge to the queene's majestie's 
injunctions as they oughte to do, and saye theire service 
sensibly and distinctly. 

XV. Item, Whether the laye people be diligent in 
comminge to the churche on the holy dayes, and with all »5 
humbleness, reverentlye and devoutelye do geve them- 
selves to the hearinge of commune prayer in the time 
thereof, and otherwise occupy themselves in private 
praiers, readinge of scriptures, or other vertuouse exercise. 
Yf anye be negligente or wilfull, whether the forfeiture w 
be leved on their goods to the use of the poore, according 
to the lawes of this realm in that behalf provided. And 
what mony hath ben gathered by the churchewardens of 
the forfets. 

XVI. Item, Whether there be in your quarters any 15 
that openly or privily use or frequent any kinde of divine 
service, or common prayer, other then is set forth by the 
lawes of this realme ; and disturbers of common prayers or 
letters of the worde of God to be reade, preached, or 
hearde : anye that by coverte or craftye meanes deprave 30 
or contemne the same ; or that speake to the derogation 
of the queene's majestie's aucthority and power, or of the 
lawes set out by publike aucthority. 

XVII. Item, Whether there be amonge you any blas- 
phemers of the name of Almighty God, adalterera|3S 
baudes, or receavers of such persons; any suspected of 



15^9-1 Archbishop Parker's visUatum artkisi, 9Sili 

incest or any other notoriouse fault, edn, or crime ; any 
dronkardes, ribalds, common slaunderers of their neigfa- 
boures, raylers, or scolders, sowers of discorde betweene 
neighboures by playes, rimes, fiuuouse libels, or other- 
5 wise. 

XVIII. Item, Whether there be in your parishes any 
inkeepers, or alewives, that admit any resorte to their 
houses in tyme of common prayer. Anye that com- 
monlye absente themselves from theyre owne churches : 

loor otherwise idely or lewdlye prophaneth the Sabbath 
day. Any that keepe any secret conyenticles, preachings, 
lectures, or readings contrary to the lawes. Any sus- 
pected of heresy, or that maintain any erronious opinians 
contrary to the lawes of Almighty God and good religion, 

>5 by publique authoritie in this realme set forth. 

XIX. Item, Whether there be in these patties, which 
minister the goodes of those, whiche be deadci, without 
aucthoritie, any executors that havie not fulfilled their 
testators will, specially in paying of legacies geveli to 

20 good and godly uses; fU3 to the reliefe of poverte, to 
poore schoUers, orphanes, highewaies, manage of poore 
maidens, and suche like. Whether youre hospitals and 
almeshouses be justly used accordinge to the foundation 
and auncient ordinaunces of the same. Whether there be 

25 any other placed in them, than poore, impotent, and 
needy persons, that hath not otherwise whereni^th or 
whereby to live. 

XX. Item, Whether there be any which of late have 
bequeathed in their testamentes, or otherwaies ther be 

30 appointed by ordinaries any summes of mony, jewelles, 
plate, omamentes, or annuities for the erection of any 
obites, diriges, trentals, or any such like use, now by the 
lawes of this realme not permitted ; and if there be, that 
you present the names of such executors, the qulmtity 

35 and quality of the guifbe, that ordre may be taken theiin 
accordingly. 

Y 8 



3S6 ArcUMhop Parker's vidtaiian articles. [LXXIIL 

XXI. Item^ Whether there be any mony or stoke, ap^ 
pertaininge to any paryshe churche, in anye manne's 
handes, that refiise or differeth to paye the same ; or that 
useth fraude, deceite, or delaye to make anye accompte 
in the presence of the honestye in the parishe for the 5 
same. Whether youre churchewardens and others afore- 
tyme, have gyven the yearly accompte, accordinge unto 
the custome as it hath been aforetime used. Whether 
the store of the poore mennes boxe be openlie and indif- 
ferentlie given where node is, without parcial affection, lo 
Whether any stocke of cattel or grain appertaininge to 
your churches be decaied ; by whose negligence, and in 
whose handes. 

XXII. Item, Whether youre schoolemasters be of a 
sincere religion, and be diligent in teaching and bringing 15 
up of youth. Whether they teach any other grammar, 
then such as is appointed by the queene's majestie's in* 
junction annexed to the same, or not. 

XXIII. Item, Whether there be anye among you that 
use sorcerie or inchauntement, magike incantations, or 30 
nigromancie, or that be suspected of the same. 

XXIV. Item, Whether there be anye in these partes, 
that have maried within degrees of affinitie or consan- 
guinitio, by the lawes of God forbidden, so set oute in 

a table for an admonition. Any man that hath two wives, 15 
or anie woman that hath two husbandes. Anie that 
beinge divorced or seperated aside, hath maried againe. 
Anye maried that have made pre-contracts. Anye that 
have married without banes thrise solemnelye asked. 
Anye couples maried that live not together, but slaun- 30 
derouslie live apart. Any that have maried out of the 
parishe churche, where they ought to have the same 
solemnised. 

XXV. Item, Whether any youre ordinaries within this 
dioces, theire chauncellor, ofiicialls, commissaries, regis- 35 

. tors, and all and singuler others, that have or do ezwdse 



1569.] ArchiisAap Pcu-Jter's visikftio^ ' SST 

any visitation or jurisdiction ecclesiastical within any part 
of this dioces, have uprightlyt fiuthfully, and unfaynedly 
to the uttermost of their powers observed in theyre owne 
persons, and towardes all other put in due execution the 

5 queene's nugestie's ecclesiasticall lawes, statutes, ii\}unc* 
tions, and al her highnes other commaundementes pub- 
lished for uniformitie of doctrine, and due order of the 
publike ministration of Grod's holy worde and sacramentes, 
and have commended and favored all such as sought the 

10 same, and condignely punished al suche as sought the 
contrary. 

XXVI. Item, Whether have any of them at any time 
wittingly suffered faultes and transgressions to remayne 
unpunished, for mony, gayne, pleasure, frendeshippe, or 

15 any other affectionate respecte; or yf any of them be or 
have beene burdensome to the subjectes of theire severaU 
jurisdictions, by exacting or takinge excessive fees, pro* 
curations, any rewardes or commodities by the way of 
promotion, gift, contribution, helpe, loane, redemption of 

90 penance, omission of quarter sermons, obtaining of any 
benefice or office, or any other like ways or meanes. 

XXVII. Item, Whether the parishioners of eveiye 
parishe duelye pay unto the collectors of the same for the 
poore, accordinge to the statute in that behalfe provided^ 

25 all suche sommes of money a£i they be oessid at, or of 
benevolence have graunted, for the reliefe of the poore^ 
or no ; or whether any have or doe refuse to paye the 
same or no. 

Generally, Whether there be any evill livers or of- 

30 fenders of the lawes of Almightie God : anie suspected of 
any notorious sinne, faulte, or crime, to the offence of 
Christian people committed : anie that stubbumlie refuse 
to conforme themselfe to unitie and good religion : anie 
that bruteth abroad rumors of the alteration of the same, 

35 or otherwise that disturbeth good orders^ and the quiet- 
nesse of Christe's chuidie and Christian congregation, 

y4 



S28 Ikimn(Uio et eMommunicafio reffinee EKze^etkar. [LXXIV. 



LXXIV. 

Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Aiigfiv 

JMattii. Parker ii. >570- Eluab. 12. 

Damnatio et ejccommunicatio Elizaheth(B regitue Anglue^ 
eique adhcerentiumy cum aliarum poenarum adjectione, 
perpapam Pium quintum. — Ex BuUario Romano, vol. ii. 
p. 303. 

"piUS episcopus, servus servornm Dei, ad perpetnam rei 
memoriam. Regnans in excelsis, cui data est omnia 

Damnatio et excommunicatid] This bull bears date the 27th of April, 
1570. It was soon known and read (although very privately) in Eng* 
land ; for on the i oth of July in the same year bishop Cox wrote to 5 
Bullinger, requesting him to reply to three of the propositions contained 
in it. (Hess, Catal. vol. ii. p. 2 1 5.) On the 7th of August bishop Jewel 
wrote to Bullinger on the same subject, and appears to have sent him a 
copy of the bull. (Hess, Cat. vol. ii. p. 2 15. Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. a. p. 
5 79.) On the 2nd of March 1 5 7 1 , Felton affixed the bull to the gates of to 
the bishop of London's palace. (Strype, Ann. vol. ii. P. i. p. 23.) On the 
same day bishop Jewel in writing to Bullinger respecting the boll, saya 
that the attempts of the pope ** adeo irriti sunt facti, ut nunc a pueria 
rideantur." (Hess, Cat. vol. ii. p. 218.) On the 27th of July 157 1, 
Hilles in a letter to Bullinger says that the confutation that he had sent 15 
to England in MS. was then in the press, together with his letter ad- 
dressed to the archbishop of York and the Inshops of EHy and Saliabnry. 
(Hess, Cat. vol. ii. p. 219.) In the same year Day the printer informs 
Bullinger that the work, as printed by himself and corrected by bishop 
Cox, was ready for circulation, and sends him several copies of it. lo 
(Hess, Cat. vol. ii. p. 222.) The bishops at first had great doubts whe- 
ther they should be acting wisely in publishing the answer to a paper 
which was not very generally known. It was however read by the 
queen herself, and finally published in English as well as Latin ; the 
queen's approval being conveyed to Bullinger by archbishop Grindal in 35 
January 1572, and by bishop Cox in the following month. (Hess, Cat. 
vol. ii. pp. 222. 224.) Comp. Strype, Ann. vol. i. P. a. pp. 354. 579. 
Parker, vol. ii. p. 78. Hallam, Const. Hist. vol. i. p. 147. lingard, vol. v. 
p. 298. 



1570.] DamnoHo ei exoomfmmicatio repinof EUxabUkm. 889 

in caelo et in terra potestas, unani sanctam^ catholioam, et 
apostolicam ecclesiam, extra quara nulla est sains, uni 
soli in terris, videlicet apostolorum principi Petro, Petri- 
que successori Romano pontifici, in potestatis plenitadine 

5 tradidit gnbemandam. Hunc unum super omnes gentes 
et omnia regna principem constituit, qui eyellat, destruat, 
dissipet, disperdat, plantet, et sedificet, ut fidelem popu- 
lum, mutuse charitatis nexu constrictum, in unitate 
Spiritus contineat, salvumque et incolumem sue exhi- 

»o beat salvatori. 

Quo quidem in munere obeundo, nos ad praedictae e&- 
clesiae gubemacula Dei benignitate vooati, nullum laborem 
intermittimus, omni opera contendenteSy ut ipsa unitas et 
catholica religio (quam illius auctor ad probandam suo- 

15 rum iidem et correctionem nostram, tantis prooellis con- 
flictari permisit) Integra conservetur. Sed impiorum 
numerus tantum potentia inyaluit) ut nullus jam in orbe 
locus sit relictus, quem illi pessimis doctrinis ooirumpero 
non tentarint; adnitente inter caeteros flagitiorum serva 

3o Elizabetha, praetensa Anglise regina, ad quam veluti ad 
asylum omnium infestissimi profugium invenerunt. Haec 
eadem, regno occupato, supremi ecclesifls capitis locum in 
omni Anglia, ejusque prsscipuam auctoritatem atque juris- 
dictionem monstruose sibi usurpans, regnum ipsum jam 

n turn ad fidem catholicam et bonam frugem reducttimt 
rursus in miserum exitium revocavit. 

Usu namque verae religionis, quam ab illius desertdre 
Henrico VIII. olim eversam, clarae memoriie Maria, re. 
gina legitima, hujus sedis praesidio reparaTerat, potenti 

30 manu inhibito, secutisque et amplexis hieretieorum erfo- 
ribus, regium consilium ex Anglica nobilitate eonfectum 
diremit, illudque obscuris hominibus hiereticis complevit, 
catholicse fidei cultores oppressit, improbos concionatores 
atque impietatum administros reposuit ; missae saerifleiuiii, 

35 preces, Jejunia, dborum delectum, edeUbotom^ ritosque 
catholicos abolevit; libros, manifestam luereaim conti- 



3S0 Damnatio et excommunicatio reginae ESiasaMhmm ^XXI V* 

nentes, toto regno proponi, impia mysteria et institata 
ad Calvini praescriptum a se suscepta et observata^ etiam 
a subditis servari mandavit; episcopos, ecclesiarum rec- 
tores, et alios sacerdotes catholicos suis ecclesiis et bene- 
ficiis ejicere, ac de illis et aliis rebus ecclesiasticis ins 
haereticos homines disponere, deque ecclesiae causis decer- 
ncre ausa, pnclatis, clero, et populo, ne Romanam eccle- 
siam agiiosccrent, neve ejus praeceptis, sanctionibusque 
canonicis obtemperarent, interdixit ; plerosque in nefarias 
leges suas venire, et Romani pontificis auctoritatem atque <« 
obedicntiam abjurare ; seque solam in temporalibus et spi- 
ritualibus dominam agnoscere jurejurando coegit ; poenas 
et supplicia in eos, qui dicto non essent audientes, impo- 
suit; easdemque ab iis, qui in unitate fidei et praedicta 
obedientia perseveraruut, exegit ; catholicos antistites, et iS 
ecclesiarum rectores in vincula conjecit, ubi multi diu- 
tumo languore et tristitia confecti, extremum vitae diem 
misere iiiiiverunt. Quae omnia cum apud omnes nationes 
pcrspicua et notoria sint, et gravissimo quamplurimorum 
testimonio ita comprobata, ut nuUus omnino locus excu- «o 
sationis, defensionis, aut tergiversationis relinquatur. 

Nos multi])licantibus aliis atque aliis super alias im- 
pietatibus et facinoribus, et praeterea fidelium persecu- 
tione, religionisque afilictione, impulsu et opera dictae 
Elizabethse quotidie magis ingravescente, quoniam illius'S 
animum ita obiirmatum atque induratum intelligimus, 
ut non modo pias catholicorum principum de sanitate 
et conversiono preces, monitionesque contempserit, sed 
ne hujus quidem sedis ad ipsam hac de causa nuncios 
in Angliam trajicere permiserit ; ad arma justitiffi jo 
contra earn de necessitate conversi, dolorem lenire non 
possumus, quod abducamur in unam animadvertere, cu- 
jus majores de republica Christiana tantopere meruere. 
Illius itaque auctoritate sufiuiti, qui nos in hoc supremo 
justitiffi throno, licet tanto operi impares, voluit cello- 35 
care, de apostolicae potestatis plenitudine declaramus 



1570.] Danmatio ei exc(mmfmicatio refftnof EKzaM 961 

prsedictam Elizabethan! hsereticam et haereticorum fieiu- 
tricem, eique adhserentes in praedictis, anathematis sen- 
tentiam incurrisse, esseque a Christi corporis- unitate 
prsecisos ; qninetiam ipsam prsBtenso regni prsedioti jure, 

d necnon onmi et quocunque domimo, dignitate, privile^o- 
que privatam. 

Et item proceres, subditos et populos dicti regni, ac 
cseteros omnes, qui illi quomodocunque Juravenmt, a 
juramento hujusmodi, ac omni prorsus dominii, fidelitatis, 

10 et obsequii debito perpetuo absolutes, prout nos illos 
prsesentium auctoritate absolvimus ; et priyamus eandem 
Elizabethan! praetenso jure regni, aliisque omnibus su- 
pradictis; praecipimusque et interdicimus universis et 
singulis proceribus, subditis, populis, et aliis prsedictis, ne 

'5 illi, ejusve monitis, mandatis, et legibus audeant obe- 
dire. Qui secus egerint, eos simili anathematis sententia 
innodamus. 

Quia vero ' dif&cile nimis esset, praesentes quocunque 
illis opus erit perferre, volumus, ut earum exempla no- 

^otarii publici manu et prselati ecclesiastici, ejusve curias 
sigillo obsignata, eandem illam prorsus fidem in judicio 
et extra illud, ubique gentium feciant, quam ipsae prae- 
sentes facerent, si essent exhibitse vel ostensae. Dat. 
Romae apud S. Petrum anno incamationis dominicae 

35 M.D.LXX. 5. cal. Mail, pontificatus nostri anno quinto. 



332 The queejCt Utter for [LXXV. 



LXXV. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christ! R«g. Ang&t 

Matth. Parker ii. X57i* Elubab. 13. 

Qiieeii Elizabeth's letter to tfie archbishop for uniformity 
in church niatters. — Strype, Parker, p. 880. 

A/TOST reverend father in God, right trusty and right 
well beloved, we greet you well. Where we require 
you, as the metropolitan of our realm, and as the prin- 
cipal person in our commission for causes ecclesiastical, 
to have good regard, that such uniform order in the 5 
divine service and rules of the church might be duly 
kept, as by the laws in that behalf is provided, and by 
our injunctions also is declared and explained ; and that 
you should call to your assistance certain of our bishops, 

Queen Elizabeth's letter] Bishops Cox and Home had uniformly lo 
acted in accordance with archbishop Parker, and their ^Eunilies were 
closely united with his by intennarriages. At this period bishop Cox 
was released from attendance on the court of high commission in 
London, having a more important charge committed to him in reoeir- 
ing the bishop of Rosse, an agent of the Scottish queen, for safie cut- 15 
tody in his palace at EHy. It was not easy to find another bishop to 
supply his ]>lacc, who was well qualified to act on the commission, and 
equally possessed the confidence of the queen's government. But 
bishop Sandys, lately raised to the see of London, was a man of much 
resolution, and stood high in the estimation of Leicester and Cecil ; 20 
and bishop Jewel, who was earnest in any cause that he undertookp 
had lately acted and written with great spirit against the non-con- 
formists, and was a person whose high reputation would be of service 
in promoting the measures of the court. These were accordingly ap- 
pointed ; but the latter did not act on the commission, as he died on >5 
the 2 2d of September, in about a month from the time of his appdnt- 
ment. Strype, Parker, vol. ii. p. 7. Ann. vol. ii. P. i. p. 37. Parker, 
vol. i. p. 369. Ann. vol. i. P. 2. p. 133. Wordsworth's Ecd. Biog. 
vol. iv. p. 52. 



157 1*] fmi/armitjf in ehnreh nuitUri. 889 

to reform the abuses and disorders of sundry persons, 
seeking to make alteration therein; we understanding 
that with the help of the reverend fathers in God, the 
bishops of Winton and Ely, and some others, ye have 

^ well entered into some convenient reformation of things 
disordered, and that now the bishop of Ely is by our 
commandment repaired into his diocese, whereby ye 
shall want his assistance ; we minding earnestly to have 
a perfect reformation of all abuses, attempted to deform 

'^the uniformity prescribed by our laws and iiyunctions, 
and that none shall be suffered to decline either on the 
left or on the right hand from the direct line limited by 
authority of our said laws and injunctions, do earnestly 
by our authority royal will and charge you, by all means 

'5 lawful, to proceed herein, as you have begun. And for 
your assistance we will, that you shall, by authority 
hereof, and in our name, send for the bishops of London 
and Sarum, and communicate these our ' letters with 
them, and straitly charge them to assist you from time 

2o to time, between this and the month of October, to do 
all manner of things requisite to reform such abuses as 
afore are mentioned, in whomsoever ye shall find the 
same. And if you shall find in any of the said bishops 
(which we trust ye shall not) or in any other, whose aid 

25 you shall require, any remissness to aid and assist you, 
if upon your admonition the same shall not be amended, 
we charge you to advertise us. For we mean not that 
any persons, having credit by their vocation to aid you, 
shall for any respect forbear or become remiss in this 

30 service, tending to the observation of our laws, injunc- 
tions, and commandments. Given at our manor of Hat- 
field the 20th day of August, in the 18th year of our 
reign. 



334 Edm. GrindaU, ar<Muhcp of York's vnjwnetimt. [LXXVI. 



LXXVI. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angli» 

Mattii. Parker 12. >57>* Elizas. 13. 

Edm, GrindaU arMishop of York^s injunctions. — R^. 
Ebor. fol. 155. in Strype's Life of Grindall, p. 167. 

Fm* the dergy. 

^ I ^H AT for the ministration of the communion bread, 
they should not deliver it unto the people into the 
mouths, but into their hands; nor should use at the 
ministration of the communion, any gestures, rites, or 5 
ceremonies, not aj)pointed by the book of common prayer ; 
as crossing, or breathing over the sacramental bread or 
wine ; nor any shewing or lifting up of the same to the 
people, to be by them worshipped or adored, nor any 
such like ; nor should use any oil, or chrism, tapers, 10 
spittle, or any other popish ceremony in the ministration 
of the sacrament of baptism. 

None to be admitted to the communion being above 

Edm. GrindaU archbishop] These are only a part [the chief and moet 
remarkable] of the injunctions issued by archbishop Grindal at his visi- 15 
tation which began on the 15th of May, 1571. It appears from them. 
as we also know from other sources, that his province was more ad- 
dicted to popery than to puritanism. That he was dissatisfied with the 
state of his province is clear from a letter written by him to Bullinger 
soon afterwards (Jan. 25. 1572), in which he gives a description of his so 
new ofRce, and adds a strong wish '* Eboracenses suostam bene in vera 
religione institutos invenisset, quam suos Londinensea et Esscxenses 
successori suo reliquit." (Hess, Cat. vol. ii. p. 224.) His forbearance on 
points of non-conformity is shewn by his silence respecting kneeling at 
the eucharist, and the use of vestments in the church, or priestly Bp- 15 
parel out of it ; as these were ordinances, against which the puritans 
were most resolute, and to which he had himself assented, when he 
joined with the other bishops in issuing the advertisements. (No. LXV.) 
Strypc, Grind, p. 246. 



157 V*] Edm, GhrindaUy archJnshcp of TcrPs ii^mdiom* 885 

fourteen years old, that could not say bj heart the Ten 
Commandments, and Lord's Prayer; nor none being 
fourteen years old and upwards, that could not say by 
heart the Catechism. 

5 That they should many no person, nor ask the banns 
of matrimony of any ; unless they could say the Catechism 
by heart, or would recite the same to the mimrter. 

That they should not church any unmarried woman, 
which had been gotten with child out of lawful matri- 

»omony; except it were upon some Sunday or holy-day; 
and except either she, before childbed, had done penance, 
or at her churching did acknowledge her fistult before the 
congregation. 

The communion to be received three times a year, be« 

* 5 sides Ash Wednesday ; viz. on one of the two Sundays 
before Easter, on one of the two Sundays before Pente- 
cost, and on one of the two Sundays before. Christmas. 

The articles of religion to be read twice eveiy year, 
viz. on some Sunday within a month after Easter and 

^ Michaelmas. 

The queen's injunctions to be read in time of divine 
service, in churches and chapels, once eveiy quarter ; and 
the archbishop's injunctions once eveiy half year. 

No minister (being unmarried) to keep in his house 

25 any woman under the age of sixty years ; except she be 
their mother, aunt, sister, or niece. 

For the laity. 

No person, not being a minister, deacon, or at the least 
tolerated by the ordinary in writing, should attempt to 
30 supply the office of a minister, in saying of divine service 
openly in the church or chapel. 

The prayers and other service Itppointed for the min« 

istration of the holy communion to be said and done at 

the communion table; except the epistle and gospel, 

35 which should be read in the said pulpit (i. e. where read- 



3S6 Edm, GrinddU^ archbishop of YorVs inju/nctiom. [LXXVI. 

ing was before appointed) or stall; and also the Ten 
Commandments, when there was no communion. 

All altars to be pulled down to the ground, and the 
altar stones defaced and bestowed to some common use : 
and rood lofts altered. The materials to be sold to the 5 
use of the church. 

At burials, no ringing any handbells ; no months minds, 
or yearly commemoration of the dead; nor any other 
superstitious ceremonies to be observed or used, which 
tended either to the maintenance of prayer for the dead % w 
or of the popish purgatory. 

The minister not to pause or stay between the morn- 
ing prayer, litany, and communion ; but to continue and 
say the morning prayer, litany, or communion, or the 
service appointed to be said (when there was no commu- 15 
nion) together, without any intermission : to the intent 
the people might continue together in prayer, and hear- 
ing the word of God ; and not depart out of the church, 
during all the time of the whole divine service. 

All above fourteen years of age to receive in their own «o 
churches the communion three times at the least in the 
year. 

No pedlar or other to set his wares to sell in church- 
porch or churchyard, nor any where else on holy-days or 
Sundays, while any part of divine service was in doing, or n 
while any sermon was in preaching. 

No innkeeper, victualler, or tipler should admit in his 
house or backside any to eat, drink, or play at cards, 
tables, or bowls in time of common prayer, preaching, or 
reading of homilies, on the Sundays and holy-days ; and y^ 
no shops to be set open on Sundays and holy-days in time 
of common prayer, &c. and that in fairs and common 
markets upon the Sundays, there be no shewing of any 

A to the maintenance of prayer for the dead] See notes on K. Eldwwrd's 
injunctions. No. II. ^ 






N^ 



157 1 •] Edm, GHndaU^ archbishop of YorVs injimeHons. 887 

wares, before all the morning service and the sermon (if 
there be any) be done. 

No persons to wear beads, or pray either in Latin or 
English upon beads or knots, or any other like supeiv 
5 stitious thing ; nor to bum any candle in the church 
superstitiously upon the feast of the Purification; nor 
superstitiously to make upon themselves the sign of the 
cross, when they first enter into any church to pray; 
nor to say the " Do profundis*' for the dead ; nor rest at 

lo any cross in carrying any corps to burying ; nor to leave 
any little crosses of wood there. 

Perambulation to be used by the people, for viewing 
the bounds of their parishes, in the days of the Rogation, 
commonly called Cross week, or Gang days. That the 

'5 minister use none other ceremonies, than to say the two 
Psalms beginning, '^ Benedic anima mea Dominum," that 
is to say, the ciii. and civ. Psalms, and such sentences of 
scripture, as be appointed by the queen's injunctions, with 
the litany and suffrages following the same, and reading 

2o one homily already decreed and set forth for that pur- 
pose ; without wearing any surplice, carrying of banners 
or handbells, or staying at crosses, or such like popish 
ceremonies. 

The ministers and churchwardens not to suffer any 

25 lords of misrule ^, or summer lords or ladies, or any di»- 

^ any lords of misrule] " These lords/' says Stow, " began their nilfe 
at All- Hallow eve, and continued the same till the morrow after the 
feast of the Purification ; in which space there were fine and snbde dis- 
g^isings, masks and mummeries." Survey of London, p. 79. The prac* 

30 tice forbidden in this article is stated at length by Stubs in his " Ana- 
tomic of Abuses/' (A. D. 1595,) p. 107, in the following words : ''The 
wilde heades of the parish, flocking together, chnse them a grannd 
captaine of mischiefe, whom they innoble with the title of my Lord of 

35 Misrule. ... in this sorte they go to the church, (though the minister be 
at prayer or preaching,) dauncing and swinging their handkerchiefs oyeir 
their heads like devils ineamate, with sudi a confosed none that no 
man can heare his owne'voyce. Then the foolish people, they look^, 

VOL. I. 2 



888 MandcUwfn pro pubUeaiume [LXXVII. 

guised persons or others, at Christmas, or at May games, 
or any minstrels, morris-dancers, or others, at nish-beaiings 
or at any other times, to come irreverently into any 
church, or chapel, or churchyard in their dance, or play 
any unseemly parts with scoffs, jests, wanton gestures, or s 
ribald talk ; namely, in the time of divine service, or of 
any sermon. 

The parish clerks were required to be able to read the 
first lesson, the epistle, and the psalms, with answers to 
the suffrages, as was used. * 



LXXVII. 

Archiepiac Cant. Anno Chmd R^. Anglia 

Matth. Parker 13 1572* Elizab. 14. 

Mandatum pro ptiblicatione libri publicarum precum. — Ex 

Reg. II. Parker, fol. 72. a. 

TV^" ATTHiEUS, providentia divina Cant, archiepiscopus, 
totius Angliae primas et metropolitanus, venerabili 

they stare, they laugh, they fleerc, and mount upon formes and 
pewes to see these goodly pageants solemnized in this sort. Tim 
after this, ahoute the church they go againe and againe, and so Ibiuths 15 
into the churche yard, where they have commonly their summer-haUi» 
their howers, arhours and hanquetting houses. . . . and thus they 
spend the sahhath day." The rush-hearing was the feast which grew 
out of the practice of bringing rushes to spread within the drareh ; a 
practice which is mentioned in K. James's letter conoeming sports and 10 
recreations (No. CXLI.), and is scarcely yet discontiniied in some of ths 
remoter parishes of the northern province. Stmtt, Sports and FMt 
p. 300. 

Mandatum pro pubUcatione] On the festival of St. Bartholomew (%^ 
of August) in the year 1572 occurred the general massacre of the t! 
Hugonots in Paris, which was soon followed by a similar 
other parts of France. These events, coupled with the s* ite of 
parties at home, created great anxiety in England ; and a form of 



157^0 libri publicarum precum. 389 

confratri nostro domino Edwino, eadem pennissione di- 
vina London, episcopo, salutem et fratemam in Domino 
charitatem. Cmn nos librum quendam precum publi- 
carum intitulatum, " A forme of common prayer to be 
5 used, and so commanded by authority of the queen's 
majesty, and necessary for the present time and state," 
MDLXxii. vicesimo septimo Octobris, de mandate illu- 
strissima? dominae nostrae reginae componi, ac imprimi, et 
publicari fecimus ; nos igitur librum praedictum, in et per 

JO tot am provinciam Cant, debitae executioni demandari vo- 
lentes, librum ipsum praesentibus annex, vobis transmit- 
timus publicand. volentes, ac fraternitati vestrae firmiter 
injungendo mandantes, quatenus vera exemplaria libri 
praedicti universis et singulis venerabilibus confratribus 

15 nostris dictae provinciae nostrae Cant, cum ea, qua fieri 
poterit, matura celeritate transmittatis, seu transmitti 
faciatis, eisque ex parte nostra injungatis, quibus nos 
etiam tenore praesentium sic injungimus ; quatenus eorum 
singuli in singulis dioecesibus eorundem, coram decano et 

10 capitulo cujuslibet ecclesiae cathedralis, ac archidiaconis, 
et clero suae dioec. prout ad eos, et eorum quemlibet per- 
tinet, librum praedictum debite publicent, et ab omnibus, 
quos conccrnit, observari, et debitae executioni deman- 
dari procurent, sive sic publicari et observari faciant cum 

25 eftectu. Et praeterea, fraternitati vestrae, ut supra, in- 

was appointed, and commanded by the queen's authority, ** as necessary 
for the present time and state." It contained '* 1. A prayer for re- 
pentance and mercy. 2. A prayer to be delivered from our enemies, 
taken out of tlie Psalms. 3. A thanksgiving, and prayer for the pre- 

30 servation of the queen. 4. A prayer relating to the apprehension of 
danger, and the troubles many now underwent for rehg^on." Strype, 
Parker, vol. ii. p. 131. The two last of these prayers are quoted at 
length by Strype. It may also be observed that the pope (Gregory 
XIII.) had issued a bull for a jubilee to be holden on the 7th of 

35 December in commemoration of other important events, bat principaUy 
of the success obtained by the most Christian king in destroying the 
heretics. Strype, Parker, vol. ii. p. 117. vol. iii. p. 197. 

z 2 



340 Injunctiones dom. Matthm^ arcMepise. Cantwxr, [LXXVIII. 

jungimus, quatenus librum praedictum in et per dioec. 
vest ram London, prout ad vos attinet, debite et eflfeo- 
tualiter publicari, et execution! demandari faciatis, prout 
decet. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum nostrum prae- 
sentibus apponi feeimus. Dat. in manerio noetro des 
Lambeth vicesimo nono die mensis Octobris, A. D. 
MDLXXii, et nostras consecrationis anno deeimo tertio. 



LXXVIII. 

Archiepisc. Cunt. Anno Chriati Reg. Anglin 

Matth. Parker 14. '573* Elizab. 15. 

Tenor mjunctionum domini Matthm, archiepiscopi Can- 
tuar. in metropolitana et ordinaria vi^tatione axthe- 
dralis ecclesicB Christi Cantuar, die septimo Octob. 
anno mdlxxiii. — Ex Strype's Life of Parker, app. 
p. 168. 

TN Dei nomine, amen. Nos Matthseus, providentia 
di\nna Cant, archiepiscopus, totius Anglian primas et 
metropolitanus, necnon ecclesise Christi Cantuarien. viw*. lo 
tator, atque ordinarius rite et legitime constitutus, ad 
honorem, commodum, et conservationem omnium jurium, 
libertatum, et privilegiorum dictae ecclesiae, injuuetiones, 
ordinationes, monitiones, et interpretationes sequent, hac 
nostra ordinaria atque metropolitica visitatione, quam^s 
vicesimo tertio die mensis Septembris, anno Domini 
MDLXXIII, inchoavimus, et ulterius ex certis, justis^ et 
rationabilibus causis animum nostrum specialiter mo- 
ventibus, prorogand. esse duximus pendente, vobis de- 
cano et capitulo ecclesiae Christi Cant, prsedict. necnon ^ 



Tenor injunciionum] The circumstances connected with this vi 
tion are given at length by Strype, Parker, vol, ii. pp. 299-306. 



^573*] Injunctianes dom. MaUhoBi, arekiepiic. Caniuar. 841 

praedicatoribus, canonicis minoribus, vicariis, caeteiisque 
ejusdem ecclesise officiariis, et ministris quibuscunque, 
quatenus vos omnes et singulos concemunt, damus, mini- 
stramus, et promulgamus, easque a vobis omnibus et 
5 singulis, quatenus vos concemunt, finniter observari ac 
perimpleri, sub poenis in eisdem sigillatim contentis, vir- 
tute obedientise vestrae canonical, vobis de jure, et sta- 
tutis vestris debit, mandamus atque prsecipimus. 

I. Inprimis Volumus, mandamus, injungimus, atque 

lo praecipimus, ut statuta et ordinationes ab ineljtissimo 
rege Henrico octavo, hujus ecclesise Christi Cant, fiinda- 
tore, edita, et singula in eis contenta, a vobis omnibus et 
singulis, quatenus vos eoncemunt, fideliter et inviolabili- 
ter conserventur ; si modo verbo Dei, aut legibus et 

15 statu tis hujus regni Anglise non repugnent; quibus ita 
repugnaiitibus, neminem vestrum teneri atque ligari pro- 

• nuuciamus, et interpretamur. Et insuper, ad meliorem 
dictorum statutorum verbo Dei, legibusque ac statutis 
hujus regni consonorum observationem, prohibemus, ne 

20 decanus pro tempore existens, nee aliquis canonicus, seu 
quisquam aliquo beneficio, salario, vel stipendio in dicta 
ecelesia gaudens, per se, vel interpositam personam, de- 
inceps directe vel indirecte, gratias, literas, dispensa- 
tiones, seu aliquid ad abrogationem, vel derogationem 

35 dictorum statutorum^ quacunque auctoritate impetret» 
obtineat aut procuret, vel impetrari, obtineri seu procu- 
rari faciat, impetratum, obtentum, seu procuratum aoci- 
piat, admittat, ratum vel gratum habeat, aut quocunquo 
modo alleget; sed disposition!, ordination! et reforma- 

30 tioni dictorum statutorum se submittat, iisque in omni- 
bus, quae eimi tangunt, pareat et obtemperet, nisi forte 
hujusmodi gratiae, literae, et dispensationes, ex mere re- 
giae majestatis motu certaque scientia, non ad alici\|us 
])ersuasionem atque solicitationem, libere atque sponte 

.^5 concedantur. In quo casu is, in cujus gratiam et favo- 
rem hujusmodi aliquid concedatur, juramentum coram 

z3 



342 Injunctiones dom, MaMhm^ archiepiic. Camtuar, [LXXVIII. 

decano, seu vicedecano, ac capitulo, vel nobis, et soo- 
cessoribus nostris tempore visitationis praestabit, quod ad 
ejus procurationem, persuasionem, vel solicitationem ob- 
tentum non sit, sub poena et sententia ^uspensionis ab 
hujusmodi gratiarum, literarum, atque dispensationum 5 
beneficio, quam in omnes et singulos deinceps contra 
banc nostram injunctionem delinquentes, exnunc prout 
extune, et extunc prout exnunc, ferimus et promulgamus 
in hiis scriptis. 

II. Item, Ne dictorum statutorum, aut injunctionum 10 
nostrarum crassa et aflectata ignorantia cuiquam (quod 
ferendum non est) deinceps cxcusationis praetextu adfe- 
ratur, volumus, ut tarn dicta statuta, quam nostrae et 
successorum nostrorum injunctiones, monitiones, statuto- 
rum declarationes, in eisque ambiguitatum ac dubiorum 15 
interpretationes, singulis annis bis, quolibet nempe capi- 
tulo generali, coram omnibus canonicis, cseterisque hujus 
ecclesiae ministris quibuscunque ad vos vocatis, in domo 
capitulari publice per decanum aut vicedecanum plane 
atque integre perlegantur. Et ut in singulis capitulis ac » 
scrutiniis, non modo de statutorum praedictorum, sed 
etiam do hujusmodi injunctionum, monitionum, declara- 
tionum, et interpretationum observatione vel violatione 
diligens inquisitio, reformatio, correctio, et emendatio 
fiat. Ac ut cuivis hujus ecclesiae canonico tam statuta, *5 
quam injunctiones hujusmodi describere, eorumque et 
earum penes so copiam habere volenti, vera exhibeatur 

a decano, vicedecano, vel thcsaurario, in loco capitulari, 
vel alio ad ca describenda apto et opportune, copia. 

III. Item, Volumus ut graviores dictae ecclesiae causae, y> 
quae moram ac maturam deliberationem pati possunt et 
requirunt, ut demissiones ad reditum vel firmam, aut 
locationcs, vel concessiones terrarum, boscorum, seu ali- 
quarum possessionum dictae ecclesiae, vel aliquarum par- 
cellarum eonmdem, alienationes aliquorum bonorum in 35 
praemissis casibus, litium inchoationes magnis ecclesiae 



1573*1 Injunetianes dam. MaiOuoi^ arekupiso. ChMuar. 84fl 

sumptibus prosequendarum, noY£e ac Bumptuosse fledifica- 
tiones, officiariorum majorum seu euperiormn diet* eccle- 
siae electiones et admissiones, ac caeteia cuncta ecclesias 
negotia, in quibus magis vertitur ecclesiffi praejudicium, 
5 non alio tempore, modo, aut forma, nisi in duobus gene* 
ralibus capitulis per statuta praedicta limitatis, propo- 
nantur, tractentur, et concludantur, sub poena amotionis 
perpetuae hiis, qui contrarium attemptant. 

IV. Item, Quoniam decanum et capitulum dietae 
loecclesiae maxime convenit, ut bones et irugi patresia- 
milias omnia bona mobilia et immobilia diets ecdesifle 
ad utilitatem, commodum, et honorem ejusdem conser*- 
vare, nee ab ecclesia ad privatos usus conyertere, aut 
aliter dissipare; idcircovolumus, ne ulla maneria, recto- 
is rise, terrae, vel possessiones dictae ecclesiae, antehac com- 
muni vel capitulari decreto ad provisionem decani, cano^ 
nicorum, vel aulae communis^ aut scholarium mensae 
assignatae vel inposterum assignandae in prsejudiciuin 
hujusmodi provisionis, ullo praeteztu, neque bosci ac 
20 sylvae dictae ecclesiae non dimitti solit. ullo mode dimit- 
tantur aut locentur, sen sic dimittatur eorum aliquod, 
sed ad hospitalit^tem decani et canonicorum suorumque 
successorum, et mensas minorum canonicorum atque 
scholarium reficiendas, et usus ecclesiae necessarioSi fide- 
25 liter custodiantur et conserventur : nee decanuSi aut 
canonicorum aliquis hujusmodi damnosis, nee solitis^ sed 
detestandis dimissionibus auctoritatem vel consensum 
praebeat, sub ])Gena et sententia suspensionis ab eorum 
respective officiis, suifragiis, et emolumentis, donee no»- 
30 tro, aut successorum nostrorum judicio, pro damnis ea 
occasione ecclesiae illatis, commode satisfecerint, quam in 
eos, et eorum quemlibet in hac parte delinquentes et 
culpabiles, extunc prout exBunc, et exnunc prout eztunc, 
ferimus et promulgamus in hiis scriptis. 
35 V. Item, Quoniam magnae semper contentiones et 
controversiae inter decanum atque pnebendarios, dum 

z 4 



344 Injunctiones dam. Mc^hm^ archupise. Cant. [LXXVIII. 

suum privatum commodum aifectantes, maneria, recto- 
riaSy terras, et tenementa quamplurima dictae ecclesiae 
inter se ad firmam dimitterent, atque locarent, necnon 
fines, quos in cista communi reponi aequius fuit, inter se 
partirentur ac dividerentur, excitatse sunt ; sub pcena et 5 
sententia suspensionis antedictiet prohibemus hujusmodi 
captatorias dimissiones, et finium dividentias deinceps in 
quovis fieri ; donee nostri aut successorum nostrorum 
judicio ecclesia praedicta niagis pinguescat, et quiescat in 
eadein contentio. lo 

VI. Item, Quoniam privatum singulorum commodum 
ita communes ecclesiae facultates exliausit, ut in quo jam 
statu ejus res sitae sint, fere sit incognitum ; volumus, ut 
singulis anni quartis, decanus, vel^eo absente, vicedecanus, 
canonicis ad hoc legitime vocatis ac praesentibus, vel alias 15 
contumaciter absentibus, in loco ubi computus fieri con- 
suevit, a receptore atque tliesaurario rationem exigat sin- 
gulorum receptorum et expensarum, indeque instrumen- 
tum in membrana describi ab auditore faciat ; pecuniam- 
que receptam, ac residuam, nee ad praesentem ecclesiae «o 
usum necessariam, receptis rationibus in cistA communi 
recondi faciat, ibique ad magnos, utiles, et extraordinarios 
ecclesiae usus custodiri. 

VII. Item Volumus, ut omnia capitularia decreta a fine 
mensis Maii ult. praeteriti per decanum et capitulum, pro «5 
divisionibus finium, et eoncessionibus ac dimissionibus 
ad firmam interposita, tanquam statutorum praedictorum 
menti ac intentioni et ecclesiae commoditati contraria, 
eassentur, irritcntur, et annuUentur ; eaque nulla pronun- 
ciamus, ac pro cassis, irritis, invalidis, atque nullis pro-3© 
nuncianuis at([ue declaramus, et a quoquam perimpleri aut 
observari, vol executioni demandari, sub poena et senten- 
tia suspensionis antefatae districte prohibemus. 

VIII. Item, Ut cultus diviuus decentius atque diligen- 
tius in dicta ecclesia deinceps celebretur, volumus, ut3S 
(pioties minorum canoniconim, vicariorum choralium, et 



^573*] Injunctumes dom. MaUhmy arehiepige. CanHmr, 845 

cantorum aliquis a matutinis aut vespertinis precibus, a 
lectionibus aut coramunionibus abfiierit, aut tardus, post 
mediam nempe earam partem peractam, ingrediatur, pro 
singulis in hujusmodi negligentia vicibus, denario com- 

5 muni mensae applicando mulctetur ; qui ad subcantoris 
re]ationem, de delinquentium stipendiis, ad usum praedic- 
tum a thesaurario detrahetur, et reservabitur. Absen- 
tiam autem pauperiorum, aliorumque ministrorum dictas 
ecclesiae, eorumque tarditatem in divinis officiis, lectio- 

'o nibus, atque communionibus, decanus, aut eo absente, 
vicedecanus poena arbitraria, juxta modum et qualitatem 
absentiae, ac tarditatis, castigabit. 

IX. Item Volumus et mandamus, ut majores canonici 
singuli suis vicibus in majoribus diebus festis, quos du- 

15 plices appellant, in propriis personis divina celebrant, juxta 
statutorum praedictorum in ea parte exigentiam. 

X. Item, Quia de jure eligendi et admittendi canonicos 
minores, vicarios, cantores, scholares et choristas inter de- 
canum et eapitulum adhue ambigitur, yolumus, ad so- 

20 ])iendam ea de re discordiam, ut pendente nostra visita- 
tionc hujusmodi electiones et admissiones cessent, donee 
ea ambiguitas regia auctoritate, yel nostra interpretatione 
toUatur et declaretur. 

XI. Item, Ut scholaribus tarn in diaeta, quam in litera- 
ls rum incremento deinceps melius prospiciatur, yolamnSy 

ut omnes deinceps admittendi scholares, aliquem ex prae- 
bendariis tutorem sen curatorem habeant, qui pro eis ec- 
clesiae caveat et provideat in necessariis ; et ut singulis 
anni quartis per decanum, vel eo absente, vicedecanum 

30 assignentur ex praebendariis duo, qui onmes scholares si* 
gillatim examinent, et quomodo in bonis Uteris mori- 
busque profecerint, explorent, et cultum habitumque cor- 
poris aspiciant, et de hiis, quae in eorum aliquibus, vel 
eorum aliquo refomianda cognoverint, tutores sen cura- 

35 tores suos admoneant. Et si scholares a tutoribus sen 
curatoribus suis saepius moniti non se correxerint, defera- 



346 Injtmctianes dom, Matthm^ arehiepise. Cani. [LXXVIII. 

tur inde ad decanum et capitulum querela, a quibus, qui 
incorrigibiles fueriut, expellantur. 

XII. Item Volumus, ut singulis anni quartis, eodem 
tempore, quo de scholaribus inquisitio fit, ab eisdem prae- 
bendariis, qui de scholaribus iuquirant, de senescallo, op- 5 
sonatore, pineemis, cocis communis aulse, acriter et dili- 
genter cognoscatur, et inquiratur, eorumque- computus, ac 
rationes fideliter examinentur. Et si de frauds semel 
convicti fuerint, vel de mala officiorum munerumYe 
suorum administratione bis a praedictis inquisitoribus ad- lo 
moniti non se correxerint, pro tertio delicto sint ipso 
facto amoti et exclusi. 

XIII. Item Vetamus atque prohibemus, ne senescalli, 
opsonatores, pincemse et coci, c^terique in hac ecclesia 
inferiores ministri officia sua per substitutes ezerceant»ij 
sed ipsi in eis diligentes, seduli, et assidui sint, sub poena 
amissionis unius anni salarii, deinde, nisi moniti se cor- 
rexerint, amotionis ])erpetuae; nisi ex gravi et urgente 
causa ejusmodi substitutio et substituta persona a decano 
et capitulo approbata fuerit. 20 

XIV. Item Volumus et mandamus, ut omnes introitus 
atque cxitus in ambitum et praecinctum ecclesiae, et ex 
cisdeni solum modo per communes et antiquas duas portas 
pateant, nee ulli per aliam viam exire vel introire lieeat ; 
et ut privatae aliarum medium fores atque januae, fenestree, '5 
viaque et pcrspectus per communes parietes in ambitum 
et praecinctum ecclesiae intromissi, ante festum Omnium 
Sanctonim prox. occludantur et obstruantur; nee dein- 
eeps hujusmodi jaimas fores, et fenestras fieri pennit- 
tantur: volumusciue de executione hujus nostri man-jo 
dati per litems certificatorias decani et capituli aucten- 
ticas in mansione nostra Lamethana fieri octavo die post 
praedictum festum Omnium Sanctorum, sub poena et sen- 
tentia suspensionis antedicta?. 

XV. Item, Ut non modo ecclesia, sed singula ejus 55 
membra in eleemosynis dandis larga, et in pauperes be- 



^573*] Injtmctumes dom. Matthm^ arehiepiie. Cfaniuar. 347 

nefica sint, volumus et monemus, ut decano, canonicis, 
l)raedicatoribus, vicariis, cantoribusque convocatis, consi- 
lium de conferenda et distribuenda eleemosyna ante fes- 
turn Omnium Sanctorum prsiedict. hoc modo ineatur, ut 
5 decanus iii/. vi.9. viiirf. singuli prsebendar. x\s. praedica- 
tores singuli vi^. Yiud. vicarii singuli iiis. iyd. cantores sin- 
guli x\id. cum decem libris ex communi serario eccledae, 
inter pauperes in civitate et suburbiis Cantuar. singulis 
anni quartis per aequales portiones distribuend. conferant* 

lo De qua collatione atque distributione incept, per aucten- 
ticas literas dicti decani et capituli pridie calend. Febr. 
prox. certiores fieri volumus sub poena nobis arbitraria. 

XVI. Item Volumus et mandamus, ut deinceps quot- 
annis vir aliquis in theologia doctus, qui a decano et ca- 

15 pitulo ad hoc aptus reputabitur, sacras scripturas suggestu 
in loco capitulari, singulis diebus Merciuii et Veneris 
inter horas septimam et octavam matutinas, publico in- 
terpretetur et legat. Cui quidem interpretation! atque 
lectioni decanum, canonicos, praedicatores, vicarios, can- 

3o tores, singulosque ejusdem ecclesiae ministros, prseter 
scholares, eorumque institutores, atque choristas cum hiis, 
qui illorum sunt, familiis, interesse diligenter volumud, nee 
cuiquam abesse permittimus, nisi legitima causa per de- 
canum et capitulum approbanda impediatur. Lectori 

25 autem et interpreti stipendium viginti librarum annua- 
rum a decano et capitulo assignari ex prsedictse ecclesiae 
facultatibus praecipimus. Quem suae lectioni diligenter 
intendere jubemus ; nee eum nisi in mensibus Augusti et 
Septembris, et in septimanis festorum Nativitatis et Cir- 

30 cumcisionis Domini, Paschse, ac Pentecostes, temporeque 
({uadragesimali intermittere, sub poena subtractionis ali- 
cujus portionis stipendii, arbitrio decani pro modo negli- 
gentiae dicti lectoris committenda. 

Has autem injunctiones, quia de statu multarum rerum 

35 in hac ecclesia male administratarum reformando aliquan- 
diu deliberandum esse putamus, vobis omnibus et singulis 



348 Affair^ despiters of the crders [LXXIX. 

interim, dum visitatio nostra pendeat, obseirandas com- 
mittimus ; omni debita, et a jure nobis competent! crimi- 
num, exccssuum, uegligentiarumy incurianun, ae delie- 
torum anteactorum quonmicunque censura, correctione, 
emcndatione, et reformatione, itemque alianim injunctio- 5 
num potestate nobis aut successoribus nostris, ante finem 
exitmnque hujus nostrae institutse visitationis, hujusmodi 
et specialiter reservatis. In quorum omnium et singu- 
lorum roborationem, iidem, et testimonium sigillum nos- 
trum praesentibus a])poni fecimus. Dat. septimo dieio 
mensis Octobris, anno Domini mdlxxiii. ; et nostras 
consecrationis anno xiv. 

Lectae et publicatae coram reverendissimo, etc. in domo 
capitulari, praesentibus dom. decano, magistris Wil- 
lowbye, Bullen, Lawse, Ncwinson, pnebendariis, et 15 
Bisely ct Ingulden, praedieatoribus, cum reliqua 
turba minorum eanonicorum, cantorumy atque minis- 
trorum, etc. 

LXXIX. 

Ari'hiepisr. Cant. Anno Christi R<^. Aii^^Ue 

Matth. Parker 14. 1573. Elizab. 15. 

A proclamation against the despisers or breakers of the 
orders prescribed in the book of common prayer. 

By the queen. 

T^HE (luecn's majesty being right sorry to understand 
"^ tliat the order of common prayer, set forth by the m 

A proclamation] The controversy that grew out of the publication of 
the " Admonition to the Parliament" was now (1573) at its greatest 
height, and liad brought out and given permanent existence to all the 
vital ([ucstions which had hitherto been latent in the disputes between 
the church and the non-conformists. Whitgift had published his an-* i^ 
swer to the Admonition, and Cartwright had replied to Whitgift in such 
a manner, that in June 1573 the queen issued a proclamation con- 
demning the Admonition and the Defence of it, and commanding that all 



^573-] prescribed in the boot of common prater. S49 

common consent of the realm and by authority of parlia- 
ment in the first year of her reign, wherein is nothing 
contained but the scripture of God, and that which is 
consonant unto it, is now of late of some men despised, 
5 and spoken against, both by open preachings, and writ- 
ings, and of some bold and vain curious men, new and 
other rites found out and frequented ; whereupon conten- 
tions, sects, and disquietness doth arise among her people, 
and for one godly and uniform order, diversity of rites 
loand ceremonies, disputations and contentions, schisms 
and divisions already risen, and more like to ensue : the 

copies of them should be brought in for the purpose of being destroyed. 
Bishop Pilkington writing to Gualter and BuUinger on the aoth of 
July, says, *' Controversia vestiaria se ipsam jam totam ita ezplicoit, at 

15 non de vestibus nunc solum, sed de tota politia eodesiastica agatur. 
Scandalum ex hac controversia maximum. Hujus culpam omnem in 
episcopos transferre iniquum est." (Hess, Cat. vol. ii. p. 237.) Of the 
odiiim which the bishops had contracted, not merely with the non-oon- 
formists, but also with the court, this proclamation of October, and the 

JO following letter from the council, are sufficient evidence. But they had 
to contend with still greater difficulties : for though urged to proceed 
to extremities with the non-conformists, and accused in public docu- 
ments of negligence in ^e discharge of their spiritual duties, they 
found that the non-conformists were favoured and jMnotected by tome of 

25 the most powerful among the queen's ministers. The archbishop 
writing to Burghley in the preceding July, says, " How secure soever 
the nobility were of these puritans, and count^iianced them against the 
bishops, they themselves might rue it at last. And that aU that these 
men tended towards, was to the overthrow of all of honourable quality, 

30 and the setting afoot a commonwealth, or as he called it» a popolarity/' 
(Strype, Parker, vol. ii. p. 323.) The immediate occasion of the ar- 
gent measures adopted by the crown and the council in October and 
November 1573, was the attempt made in the public street to murder 
Mr. Hawkins, mistaken for Mr. Hatton, who was one . of the queen'dS 

35 privy council, and afterwards lord chancellor. It was made on the 1 4th. of 
October by one Birchett of the Middle Temple* who was moved* as he 
said, by the Spirit of God to kill Mr. Hatton, because he was an enemiy 
of God's word, and a maintainer of papistry. Strype* Purker* vol. ii.' 
p. 327. Ann. vol. ii. P. i. p. 426. Neal's Porit. vol«i. p. 9oa. Wood's 

o Ann. vol. ii. p. 173. Hallam, Const HisttToLL p. 900. » .\ .- 



350 Against detpisen of the arderw [LXXIX. 

cause of which disorders, her majesty doth plainly under- 
stand to be the negligence of the bishops and other hulf 
gistrates, who should cause the good laws and acts of 
parliament made in this behalf to be better executed, and 
not so dissembled and winked at, as hitherto (it may ap- f 
pear) that they have been : 

For speedy remedy whereof her majesty straitly 
chargeth and commandeth all archbishops and bishopSi 
and all justices of assizes, and '^ Oyer and Terminer," and 
all mayors, head officers of cities and towns corporate, » 
and all other who have any authority, to put in execu- 
tion the act for the uniformity of common prayer, and 
the administration of the sacraments, made in the first 
year of her gracious reign, wuth all diligence and severity, 
neither favouring nor dissembling with one person ncMns 
other, who doth neglect, despise, or seek to alter the 
godly orders and rites set forth in the said book : but if 
any person shall by public preaching, writing, or printing 
contemn, despise, or dispraise the orders contained in the 
said book, they shall immediately apprehend him, andw 
cause him to be imprisoned, until he hath answered to 
the law, upon pain that the chief officers, being present 
at any such preaching, and the whole parish do answer 
for their contempt and negligence. Likewise, if any 
shall forbear to come to the common prayer, and receive n 
the sacraments of the church, according to the order in 
the said book allowed, upon no just and lawful cause ; all 
such persons they shall inquire of, present, and see 
punished, and ordered according as is prescribed in the 
said act, with more care and diligence than heretofore i» 
hath been done : the which negligence hath been cause 
why such disorders have of late now so much and in so 
many places increased and grown. 

And if any persons shall either in private houses, or in 
public places make assemblies, and therein use other rites u 
of common prayer and administration of the sacraments, 



1573'] preserihed in the boot of eom mam prayer. S61 

than is prescribed in the said book, or shall maintain in 
their houses any persons being notoriously charged by 
books or preachings to attempt the alteration of the said 
orders, they shall see such persons punished with all 

5 severity, according to the laws of this realm, by pains 
appointed in the said act. 

And because these matters do principally appertain 
to the persons ecclesiastical, and to the ecclesiastical 
government, her majesty giveth a most special and 

lo earnest charge to all archbishops, bishops, archdeacons, 
and deans, and all such as have ordinary jurisdiction, in 
such cases to have a vigilant eye and care to the observa^ 
tion of the orders and rites in the said book prescribed, 
throughout their cures and diocese, and to proceed from 

15 time to time by ordinary and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, 
as is granted them in the said act, with all celerity and 
severity against all persons, who shall offend against any 
of the orders in the said book prescribed, upon pain of 
her majesty's high displieasure for their negligence, and 

10 deprivation from their dignities and benefices, or other 
censures to follow, according to their demerits. Given 
at Greenwich the 20th day of October, MDLXxm. in the 
fifteenth year of the queen's majesty's reign. 

GqA sm>e the queen. 



352 About uniformity and parochial visitation. [LXXX. 



LXXX. 

Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angli» 

Matth. Parker 14. 1573. Elizab. 15. 

A letter* from the council about uniformity and a paro- 
chial visitation. — Ex MS. Coll. Coq). Ch. Cantabr. 
Miscell. Y. 

A FTER our hearty commendations to your lordship. 
^^ By her majesty's proclamation dated the 20th of 
October last, it may appear, how careful her highness is, 
that the orders set forth in the book of common prayer, 
allowed by parliament in the first year of her majesty's 5 
reign, should be severely and uniformly kept throughout 
all this realm. And that the fault why such diversities 
have been of late taken up in many churches, and there- 
upon contentions and uncomely disputations and dis- 
sensions risen (in her highness' opinion) is most in you, lo 
to whom the special care of ecclesiastical matters doth 
appertain ; and who have your visitations episcopal and 
archidiaconal, and your synods and other such meetings 
of the clergy first and chiefly ordained for that puipose, 
to keep all churches in your diocese in one uniform and 'S 
godly order, which now, as is commonly said, (the more 
is the pity,) be only used of you and your officers to get 
money, or for some other purposes. We at her majesty's 
commandment straitly made unto us, are therefore to 
require you to take a more vigilant eye to this uniform- *o 
ity, and to the keeping of the orders allowed by the 
said parliament, and by her majesty's injunctions through- 
out your diocese; and either by yourself, which were 
most fit, or by your archdeacons, or other able and wise 
men personally to visit, and see, that in no one church «5 
of your diocese there be any difformity or difference used 



^573-1 ^^x^ um/arfmty andparodkial vmiaiUm. 888 

for those prescribed orders. But if any shall refuse them, 
or accept any other diverse or repugnant to them, to call 
those persons before you, and by censures of the church 
and the ecclesiastical law to see them punished. So that 

5 what is required may be done in the churches of your 
diocese without extraordinary and temporal (as it is 
termed) jurisdiction and judgraeAt, as it may we think 
verily, if diligent care and heed were taken by you their 
pastor and bishop. For nothing is required, but that 

lo godly and seemly orders allowed by the queen's majesty 
and the whole realm be kept. The which except ye did 
wink at and dissemble, there needed not these new pro- 
clamations and strait callings upon. Wherefore if now 
ye would take for your part care and heed, and so the 

15 rest of your fellow bishops, the quiet of the realm might 
soon be purchased in our mind touching any such mat- 
ters ; which should be great pleasure to her mijesty, and 
comfort to us. The neglecting thereof how grievouB it 
will be to her highness, and what danger may be to you, 

^oher highness hath expressed in the said proclamation. 
Thus praying you to consider these things, and with all 
speed to put order in them, and from time to time to 
certify us what you have done, and what by your orders 
is done herein to the fulfilling of her nugesty's desire, we 

35 bid you most heartily fareweU. From Grenewieh the 
seventh of November, MDLXXm. 

Your Umngfriends^ 

W. Burghley. E. Lyncoln. T. Sussex. 

B. Leycester. 
30 F. Knollys. T. Smith. 



VOL. I. A a 



354 Direction of eedetiattieal exareite, [LXXXI. 



LXXXI. 

Archiepisc. Cant Anno Chriiti K^* AngUs 

Matth. Parker 15. i574« Ez.I2AB. 16. 

The direction of the ecclesiastical exercise in the diocese 
of Chester. — Strype's Annals, vol. ii. App* p. 73. 

T^HE moderators of every several exercise shall select 

such parts of scripture to be handled amongst the 

ministers, that are to attend the same, as they in their 



The direction of the'] " Exercises among the ministerB and cimtes 
of churches (called prophecyings from the Apostle's word i Cor. ziy.) 5 
were now used in most dioceses. The main end whereof was for the 
inciting those that were in orders to apply themselves to the study and 
understanding of the holy scripture; and to enable them to make 
profitable sermons, and to preach in their several cures and parochial 
charges. In order to these exercises, the clergy were sorted into 10 
divers competent companies or societies, by subscription of their 
names ; and particular churches and days appointed, and the pervont 
named to exercise and perform in their order : and the rest, after the 
exercise was over, were to judge of what had been spoken ; and a 
moderator to be present, to determine and conclude all.'* Strype, >5 
Ann. vol. ii. P. i. p. 472. Comp. Grindal, p. 260. 

The exercises in the diocese of Chester were approved by bishop 
Chaderton, and in the year 1575 a paper was issued by him, on the 
recommendation of the privy council, enlarging the ecclesiastical exer- 
cise, and bring^g it into more frequent use, and in a great nomber of m 
places. This paper may be seen in Strype, Ann. voL ii. P. a. p. 546* 
Comp. vol. iii. P. i. p. 477. 

The regulations adopted in Hertfordshire and approved by Inaliop 
Cooper in 1574 may be seen in Str3rpe, Ann. vol. ii. P. i. p. 473. TTie 
regulations adopted at Northampton with the consent of bishop Scam- s5 
bier in 1571 may be seen in Ann. vol. ii. P. i. p. 133. A letter from 
bishop Parkhurst in 1572 approving of the exercises adopted at Bury 
St. ELdmonds may be seen in Ann. vol. ii. P. 2. p. 494. The practice had 
been adopted in the first instance in Scotland^ and rules had been pro- 
vided for it by the Convention of 1560. Spotswood, Hist. p. 170. 50 



'574-1 Direction of ecdesieutiaxl exercise. 985 

discretion shall think meet ; so that they take in eveiy 
several place of the exercise divers parts of scripture. 

The writers shall be appointed to gather several ob- 
servations upon every verse of that part of scripture 
5 which shall be assigned unto them. And so proceed 
with the whole verse by verse. 

The speakers shall be appointed eveiy of them in 
order to treat upon so many verses of the same, as by 
an equal distribution of the whole text amongst them all 
lo shall be assigned to eveiy one. 

The manner of proceeding in the ea^ercise. 

First, Prayer shall be aptly conceived for the present 

occasion; for the blessed estate of her migesty, of the 

church and commonwealth^ by one of the moderators, 

15 who in order shall every of them accomplish the same at 

every several exercise. 

Then the first moderator shall propose and read the 
first verse of the text, which is to be handled. 

Upon which verse the writer shall in order read the 
ao observations, which they have gathered. 

After whom the speaker, a»sdgned to that part of the 
text, shall in some larger manner discourse upon the 
same. 

After him the rest of the speakers shall have liberty 
n to give any brief notes upon that verse. 

In all which actions of the writers and speakers the 

moderator's (office) that proposed the verse, shall be to 

make special observation of any errors, n^Bfligeiice, or 

ignorance in any of them, and the same to oorriBct and 

30 reform with as brief speech as may be. 

After which, he shall further add such observations as 

he shall gather upon the said verse. And after him the 

rest of the moderators and preachers in due order shall 

do the like, till as much be said upon that verse^ as shall 

35 be thought convenient. 

AaS 



S56 Direction of ecclmasHcal exercise. [LXXXI. 

All which time both the speakers and writers shaU 
take notes in writing of those observations, which shall 
be given by any of the speakers, preachers, or mode- 
rfitors. And so in due order shall all the moderators 
proceed with the whole text verse by verse. 5 

Tlien shall the moderators call before them those, 
whom by any information they are to admonish of any 
misdemeanour or enormities of life. And if after such 
admonition they shall again fall into the like oflfence, 
then the moderators shall certify the bishop thereof, and io 
crave suspension of them. 

After the moderators shall proceed against the absents 
in this sort : viz. They shall at the next exercise, after 
such absence, call before them the said parties ; who, if 
they cannot be able to prove a sufficient cause of their '5 
absence, and the same well approved by the moderators, 
then the moderators shall exact the mulct imposed by 
the order set down by the right reverend the lord bishop^ 
without abating any part thereof in any respect; lest 
any thereby learn to presume of favour in such case to m 
be shewed. Which mulct if any shall refuse to satisfy, 
and not duly conform themselves in that behalf, or not 
come in place to give account of their actions, then the 
moderators shall without delay proceed to suspension, 
according to the said orders. Which suspension they 25 
shall forthwith certify unto the said bishop, according to 
the said orders ; and further, with all instance prosecute 
the said suspension with fiill effect. 

In fine, the whole action is to be concluded with 
prayer, as it was begun. 39 



1575*] Special camrnission to bum heretid: 357 



LXXXII. 

Sede Cant. Anno Christi Reg. AngUa 

vacante. i575- Elizab. 17. 

Q. ElizabeWs special commission to sir Nicholas Bacon to 
burn hereticks. Ex Rot. Pat. 17 Eliz. p. 5. m. 9- apud 
Rymer Foed. vol. xv. p. 740. 

T^LIZABETH, by the grace of God quene of England, 
Fraunce, and Ireland, defender of the fayth, etc. to 
our right trustie and right well beloved counsaillomv 8ur 
Nicholas Bacon knight, lord keaper of our greate seale of 
5 England, greetinge. Where the reverend father in God, 
Edwyn busshoppe of London, Edmunde busshoppe of 
Rochester, and our right trustie and well beloved dr 
William Cordell knight, maister of the rolles, Roger 
Manwood and Robert Mounson, two of the justices of 

lo our Common Pleas, with others our commissioners suffi- 
cientlye authorized by our commission under our greate 
seale of England, have travayled upon the examynation, 
heringe and determynation of John Peeters and Henrie 
Turwert beinge Flemyngs borne, and nowe lyvinge in 

15 this our realme, concemyng theire false opynyons and 
sects of Anabaptists, holden and averred by them, where- 

Q. Elizabeth's special] The writ of execation which follows upon thii 
warrant bears date July 15, 1575 ; and we find from Stow and HoUa. 
shead that on the 22nd of the same month ''two Dutchmen Anabi^ 

20 tists were brent m Smithfield, who died in great horror, with roarmg 
and crying." " The privy council would not spare them« notwithstand- 
ing the earnest intercession of the Dutch congregation, for divers 
weighty reasons laid before them. But the chief causes of their execu- 
tions were, because they would not own them for Christian magistrates,, 

75 and had been banished a year before/' Strype, Ann. vol. ii. P. i. 
p. 564. It appears that nine other Hollanders who were apprehended 
at the same time, and refused to abjure, were also condemned by the 
same commission to be burnt, but were eventually banished. Strype» 
Ann. vol. ii. P. 2. p. 564. Collier, Hist. vol. ii. p. 549. Neal's Purit. 

30 vol. i. p. 223. Lingard, vol. v. p. 386. 

Aa8 



358 Special cammismon to hum hereUes. [LXXXII. 

in they have, before the said reverend fathers and others 
our said commissioners, mayntajned their said most peril- 
lous and dangerous opynyons, for the which they are by 
definitive sentence declayred by the said reverend fiather 
the busshoppe of London, with the consent of others our 5 
said commissioners, justilie adjudged and declayred to be 
heretiques, and therefore as corrupt members to be cut of 
from the rest of the flocke of Christ, lest they should 
infect others professinge the true Christiana fiaythe, and 
are by them lefte under the sentence of the greate ex- «• 
communication to be by our secular power and authoritie 
as heretiques punished, as by the " Significavit" of the 
said reverend father in God the busshoppe of London, 
with the assent of others of our said commissioners, re- 
mayninge in our courte of Chauncerye, more at lardge '5 
appeareth. And although the said Anabaptists have 
synce the said sentence pronounced against them bynne 
often and very charitable traveled with, as well by the 
mynisters of the Duche churche in the citye of London, 
as by other godlie and learned men, to diswade, revoke, » 
and remove them from their Anabaptisticall and heretical] 
opynyons ; yet they arrogantlie and willfullie persist and 
continewe in the same. We therfore, accordinge to our 
regall function and office, myndynge the execution of 
justice in this behalfe, and to give example to others, lest •* 
they should attempte the like hereafter, have determined, 
by the assent of our counsayll, to will and requyre you 
the said lord keaper, immediatelie upon the receipte 
hereof to awarde and make out our wrytt of execution 
accordinge to the tenor in these presents ensuynge ; and 3» 
these our letters signed withe our hande shall be your 
sufficient warrant for the same. 

Per ipsam reginam. 

Et warrantum remittitur praedicto domino custodi, ut 
patet inferius. 55 



^575'] Brew regium de kan^ieis comhwrm^du. S09 



Breve regium de exectUione judicii versus Johannem Pee^ 
ters et Henricum Turwert hareHcos comburendos. 

Tp LIZABETHA, Dei gratia» etc. vicecomitibus London. 
-*-^ salutera. Cum reverendi in Christo patres, Edwinus^ 
providentia divina Londoniensis episcopus, Edmundu8» 
eadem gratia Roffensis episcopus, ao praedilecti et fideles 

5 nostri Willielmus Cordell, miles, rotulorum sive scrinio- 
rum nostrorum magister, Bogerus Manwood, Robertas 
Mounson, justitiarii nostri in Communi Banco, Alexander 
Nowell, S. Pauli London. Gabriell Goodman, Westm. 
ecclesiarum respective decani, et alii tanquam cognitores, 

lo inquisitores, judices, et commissarii, inter alios per literas 
nostras patentes sub magno sigillo nostro Anglie gerentes 
datum 11. die mensis Maii ultimo prseterito, suflScienter 
et legitime deputati, nobis significaverint^ quod ipsi contra 
et adversus quosdam Johannem Peeters et Henricum Tor- 

15 wert Flandricos oriundos, in hoc regno nostro Angliae 
degentes, de et super nefando crimine haereseos ac detes- 
tanda Anabaptistarum secta, apud bonos et graves enor- 
mitatibus difl&matos, auctoritate praedicta procedentes, 
praedicti Johannes Peeters et Henricus Turwert coram 

10 praefatis reverendis patribus, ac aliis conmiissionariis no6- 
tris personaliter comparentes, praedictum nefimdum cri- 
men hsereseos, ac detestandam Anabaptistarum sectam, 
ac alios errores contumaciter et ex quadam pertinadu 
omnino sustinuerunt et defendebant, ac eorum alter sus- 

15 tinuit et defendebat, per sententiam diflinitivam ejusdem 
reverendi patris London, episcopi, cum consensu caetero- 
rum commissionariorum nostrorum praedictorum, juste, 
legitime, et canonice contra eosdem Johannem et Henri- 
cum in ea parte latam, haeretici adjudicati et pronunciati 

30 existant, et ideo tanquam oves morbidas a grege Domini, 
ne subditos nostros suis contagionibus inficiant, ejici^idos 
et eliminandos fore decreverint. Cum igitur sancta mater 

Aa 4 



360 Brece regium de JueretioU eofkkwmdii, [LXXXII. 

ecclesia non habet, quod ulterius in hac parte fieu^re et 
exeqiii debeat, iidem reverendi patres ac alii supradicti 
commissionarii eosdem Johannem et Henricum damnatos 
haereticos, brachio nostro scculari reliquerint et condigna 
animadversione plectendos, prout per literas patentee prae- s 
&ti reverendi patris episcopi London, cum congenBu caete- 
rorum in hac parte coUegarum superinde oonfectas, nobis 
in cancellariam nostram certificatum est. Nos igitur, ut 
zelator justitiae, et fidei catholicas defensor, volentesqne 
ecclesiam sanctam, ac jura et libertates ejusdem, et fidem lo 
catholicam manutenere et defendere, ac hujusmodi haere- 
ses et errores ubique (quantum in nobis est) eradicare et 
extirpare, ac haereticos sic convictos animadversione con- 
digna puniri; attendentesque hujusmodi haereticos in forma 
praedicta convictos et damnatos, juxta leges et consaetu- >5 
dines regiii nostri Angliae in hac parte consnetas, ignis 
incendio comburi debere ; vobis praecipimus quod dictos 
Johannem Peeters et Henricum Turwert in custodia Testra 
existentes, apud West Smithfeld in loco publico et aperto, 
ex causa prsemissa, coram populo igni committi, ac ipsos m 
Johannem Peeters et Henricum Turwert in eodem igne 
realiter comburi faciatis, in hujusmodi criminis detestatio- 
nem, aliorumque hominum exemplum, ne in simile crimen 
labautur ; et hoc sub periculo incumbenti nullatenns 
omittatis. Teste regina apud Gorambury 15. die Julii. n 

Per ipsam reginam. 



Et warrantum inde remittitur praedicto domino custodi 
magni sigilli Augliae i>er ejus mandatum. 



'575-1 Form of recoMOation for certain Afutiapiidt. 861 



The farm of recantation prescribed to certain Anabaptists. 

HeyKn's Hist. Presbyt. p. 242. 

^11/^HEREAS I N. N. being seduced by the spirit of 

error, and by false teachers his ministers, have 

&Ilen into many damnable and detestable hetesies ; Tid^ 

licet, First, That Christ took not flesh of the substance of 

5 the blessed Virgin Mary. Second, That infants bom of 
faithful parents ought to be rebaptized. Thirds That no 
Christian man ought to be a magistrate, or bear the 
sword or office of authority. Fourth, And that it is not 
lawful for a Christian man to take an oath. Now by the 

I o grace of God, and through conference with good and 
learned ministers of Christ his church, I do understand 
and acknowledge the same to be most damnable and 
detestable heresies, and do ask Grod here before his 
church mercy for my said former errors, and do forsake 

15 them, recant, and renounce them, and algure them from 
the very bottom of my heart ; and further I confess, that 
the whole doctrine and religion established in this reaha 
of England, as also that which is received and practised 
in the Dutch church here in this city, is sounds true, and 

2o according to the word of God, whereunto in all things I 
submit myself, and will most gladly be a member of the 
said Dutch church, from henceforth utterly abandoning 
and forsaking all and every anabaptistical error. 



368 Ar<Mi$hcp GrmM't vitUatim artidet. [LXXXIII. 



LXXXIII. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Chriiti Reg. Anglis 

Edm. Obindall I. 15 7<^- Elizab. 18. 

Articles to be enquired of in the metropoliticaU visitations 
of the most reverend father in God Edmonds bjf divine 
sufferaunce archbisJwpe of Cant, primate of all England, 
and metropolitane in all and singular cathedral and col- 
legiate churches tvithin his province of Canterbury* — 
Reg. Grindall, fol. 97. a. 

I. TpYRSTE, Whether your bishop, and his chancellor, 
commissaries, and all his officers do minister jus- 
tice indifferently and incorruptly to all her majesties 
subjects, and punish vice and public crimes "with due 
punishment, without any corrupt commutations, neither 5 
respecting gifts nor persons; and whether any money, 
gifte, rewarde, or any other temporal commoditie (other 
then accustomed lawfuU fees) hath been received for 
justices, or any judgmentes, or execution of lawes, or for 
any guifte, advowson, presentation, collation, institution, >^ 
or induction, or for the procuring of any such to any 
spirituall or ecclesiasticall livynge; what hath been 
received, by whom, and by whose mediation? 

II. Item, Whether your bishop, deane, chapter, and 
all other your govemours do in their severall regiments i$ 
direct all their doings to seek the glory of God, the godly 
quietness of the church of England, of the upholding in 

good order of your cathedral church of neyther 

suffringe of the same corrupt doctrine, nor offensive man- 
ners ; and whether any of them doth, or hath, make, or » 

Articles to be enquired'] Strype, Grind, p. 313. Collier. Tol. iL 
P- 552. 



157^0 ArcKlMhiop GrindaWs vi$iiaiian ariidei. 868 

suffer any wast, ruyne, decaye, or dilapidation of the 
goods, or possessions of this church, as by decaye, or not 
repayring the church, and their severall houses, alienating 
the stocke, buildinges, ymplementes, or other moYeable 
5 goodes of the church, or committing any of the same to 
private uses, or making of leases in possession, or reyer- 
sion, for moe yeres, or otherwaies, then the statutes of 
your church do prescribe, or by gredy wast of timbre^ 
excessive sales of woode, advowsons, unused and un- 
lo reasonable grauntes, patentes, and reyertions of offices, 
unwounted annuities, and such like gredy gripinge of 
thinges present, to the impoverishing of the church and! 
succession ; how many, and what they be, whether any 
such grante or advowson hath been soldo for any value ; 
15 by whom, to whom, ,and for how much, and vefao now 
enjoyeth the same? 

III. Item, How many such grauntes, pattentes, advow- 
sons, sales, ofHces, annuities, and such like hath binne 
confirmed by your chapiter seal, sithence the first yere of 
^o her majesties reign ; to whose use, and by whose means ; 
and what money was received for the same, by whom, 
and to whose use ; whether any like goifte, graunt, ad- 
vowson, or lease, for longer time than for twenty one 
yeres, or three lives, hath been made, or confirmed, anie- 
ns dated, or by other coUorable means procured, in possession 
or reversion, sithence the beginning of the parliament in 



///. Item, How many iuch'] By statate i Eliz. c. 19. fatthops were 
restrained from granting leases (except to the crown) other than for 
twenty-one years or three lives ; but it stiO continued lawM for other 

30 sole corporations to grant long leases, with proper consent or oonfiima- 
tion, until the passing of the statute 13 Eliz. c. io» by which all other 
corporations, whether sole or aggregate, are placed under the same 
restraints with bishops. The inquiries of this 3d article are evidently 
with reference to these two disabling statates. See i Inst. 44, 45. 

35 Gibs. Cod. 744. Blackst. Com. vol. ii. p. 320. Bum. Eoc. L. vbL iL 
p. 385. Strype, Smith, p. 144. Wood's Ann. vd. iL p. 178. 



364 Archbishop GrindalVs visitation articles. [LXXXIII. 

the thirtenth yere of her majesties reigne ; what those be, 
and by whose means procured, and to what use ? 

IV. Item, Whether your deanes, archdeacons, and 
other dignities of your church be resident or not j who 
they be, what other promotions or livings every one of 5 
them hath, and in what diocess ; and whether every one 
of them be ministers or not, whether they use semely or 
preestly gannentes, according as they are commaunded by 
the queues majesties injunctions to doe? 

V. Item, Whether your prebendaries be commonlie » 
resident, or how many of them ? what orders they be in, 
how, and in what apparell they do commonly go ; whe- 
ther they do preacho in their severall courses ; or how 
often ; and what times in the yere ; or how often they do 
resorte to your cathedral church ? 15 

VI. Item, Whether your divine service be used, and 
the sacraments ministred in manner and forme prescribed 
in the queues majesties injunctions, and none otherwaies; 
whether it be said or songe in due time ; whether in all 
pohites, according to the statutes of your church, not being » 
repugnant to any of the queues majesties lawes or injunc- 
tions ; whether all that were wonte to be bounde, or 
ought to come to it, do so still ; whether every one of 
your church doth openly communicate in the said cathe- 
dral church, at the least, once in every yeare ? 15 

VII. Item, Whether your grammer schole be well 
ordered ; whether the number of the children thereof be 
fiiniished; how many do want, and by whose de&ulte; 
whether they be diligently and godly brought up in the 
feare of God, and holsom doctrine ; whether any of them 30 
have been received for money or rewardes, and by whome; 
whether the statutes, foundations, and other ordinances 
towchinge the godly prescribed, and used almes of your 
church, and the said grammer scholemaster, or the 
schollars thereof, or any other havingo doing or interest 35 
therein, be kept ; by whom it is not observed, or by whose 



1576.] Archhkhop GrindalFs vUitaiian ariidm. SfiS 

defaulte; and the like, in all points, you shall enquire 
and present of your choristers, and their master ? 

VIII. Item, Whether all other officers, and ministers 
of your church, as well within as withowte^ do their 

5 duities in all pointes obediently and faithfully, and whe- 
ther your deane, stewardes, treasurers, bursors, receyvors, 
or any officer, having any charge, or any waies being 
accomptant to the said church, do make a trewe, perfect, 
and faithfiill account at such daies and times, as be 

10 limited and appointed by the statutes and customes of 
the said church, making full payment yerely of all arrer- 
ages; whether any money, or goods, of the church do 
remain in any mans hands ; who they be, and what somm^ 
remajmeth ? 

15 IX. Item, You shall enquire of the doctrine and 
judgement of all and singuler hed and members of your 
said church; as your deane, archdeacons, prebendaries, 
readers of divinitie, scholemasters, vicars, petticannoiiSi 
deacons, conductes, singing men, choristers, scholers in 

so grammer scholes, and all other officers and ministers, as 
well within your church as without ; whether any of them 
do either priveley or openly preache any usholsome, erro- 
niouse, or seditious doctrine, contrary or repugnant to 
any article agreed upon in any synod of the clergy of the 

15 province of Cant, sithence the first yere of her majesties 
reign, or discorage any man soberly for his edifienge from 
the reading of the holly scriptures, or in any point to 
perswade, or move any not to conform themselves to the 
order of religion reformed, restored, and revived by pubUc 

30 authoritie in this church of England ? 

X. Item, You shall enquire of the names and surnames 
of all and singuler the abovenamed members, officers, and 
ministers of this your said church, as well high as low ; 
whether you know and suspect any of them to obtaine 

3!^ his rome or lyving by simony, that is, by money, unlaw- 
full covenantes, guifte, or reward ; who presented him ; 



866 Archbishop Gfimlairi vimiaihn ariid^ [LXXXHI. 

whether his living be in lease, and by whom it is leased ; 
to whom, and upon what rent ; whether he doth pay any 
pension; for what cause, what sonmie, and to whom; 
whether any of them be knowen or suspected to be a 
swearer, an adulterer, a fornicator, or suspected of any 5 
other unclenelyness ; whether any of them do use any 
suspect house, or suspected company of any such faults, 
any tavern, alehouse, or tippling houses at any inconveni- 
ent season ; whether any of them be suspected to be a 
drunkard, a dicer, a carder, a brawler, fighter, quarreller, '^ 
or unquiet person, a carrier of tales, a backbiter, slanderer, 
bate maker, or any other waies a breaker of charitie or 
unity, or cause of unquietness by any meanes ? 

XI. Item, Whether you have necessary ornaments and 
bookes for your church ? 15 

XII. Item, Whether your churche be sufficiently le- 
payred in all partes; what stocke or annuitie is there 
towards the reparations of the cathedrall church; in 
whose hands and custodye doth it remayne ? 

Item, Finally you shall presente what you think neces- » 
sary or profitable for the church to be reformid, or of 
newe to be appointid and ordred in the same. 



157^0 Ortkn for r^vrmatim ff timmiL 867 



LXXXIV. 

Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Chrirti Beg. AngliaB 

Edm. Orikdall I. 1576. Elizab. i8. 

Orders for reformation of abuses about the learned M«r- 
dses and conferences among the ministers of the church. 
Strype's Life of Grindall, p. 220. 

I. TNPRIMIS, The said exercises are to be used in 
such churches, and at such times, as the bishop of 
the diocese shall under his hand and seal appoint. 

Orders for reformation] These exercises were in many cases bene- 
5 ficial, in many others mischievous ; and in those days of rebuke and 
turbulence a single instance of disorder would make more impreaakm 
upon the court than all the benefits that might eventually ensue from 
increased knowledge and rational inquiry. It is dear from these 
" orders" that among the positive and visible evils were the following ; 

10 that laymen were allowed to take part in the debates; that non-con- 
forming ministers were allowed also ; that occasion had been taken to 
attack the character of individuals, both public and private; that speeches 
had been made against the established government and servicea at 
the church ; that some speakers had shewn themselves iU-afiected to- 

15 wards the state. (Strype, Grind, p. 326. Neal's Purit. vol. i. p. 231.) 
« The archbishop believed this mismanagement accidental to the meet- 
ings : he thought the design was serviceable for the improvement of the 
people and clergy, and therefore endeavoured to make it answer nptm. 
experiment and to bring the practice up to the plan." Collier, vol. iL 

90 p. 553. Hallam, Const. Hist. vol. i. p. 211. 

The number and nature of the questions, which may have been raised 
at some of these meetings, may be seen from the following passage in 
bishop Cooper's Admonition to the people of England (p. 160), pub- 
lished in the year 1589. " At the beginning some learned and godly 

25 preachers, for private respects in themselves, made strange to wear the 
surplice, cap or tippet : but yet so that they declared themselves to 
think the thing indifferent, and not to judge evil of such as did use 
them. Shortly after rose up other, defending that they were not things 
indifferent, but distained with antichristian idolatry, and therefore not 

30 to be suffered in the church. Not long after came another sort» af- 
firming that those matters touching apparel were but trilleSy and not 



368 Orders for reformation ofahuaes. [LXXXIV. 

II. Item, That in all such assemblies for the said con- 
ferences or exercises, either the archdeacon, if he be a 
divine, or else some one other grave learned graduate, 
at the least, to be appointed and allowed by the bishop, 
as before, be present and moderate the said exercises. $ 

III. Item, That a catalogue of names be made and 
allowed of those that are judged meet to be speakers in 
course in the said exercises ; which are known to be able 
to speak aptly, and to the profit and edifying of the 
hearers. And such parts of the scripture entreated of, w 
as the bishop shall appoint. 

IV. Item, That the rest of the ministers, not able to 
speak publicly with commendation, be assigned by the 
moderators some tasks, for the increase of their learning, 
to be comprised in writing, or otherwise, concerning the 15 
exposition of some part of scripture ; and those tasks to 
be read privately before the ministers only, and not 
before the laity. 

V. Item, Ante omnia, That no lay person be suffered 
to speak publicly in those assemblies. 20 

VI. Item, That no man speaking in the said exer- 
cises, shall be suffered to glance openly, or covertly 
against any state, or any person public or private. If he 

worthy contention in the church, but that there were greater things hx 
of more weight and importance, and indeed touching faith and reUgion, 15 
and therefore meet to be altered in a church rightly reformed : as the 
bookof commcm prayer, the administration of the sacraments, the govern- 
ment of the church, the election of ministers, and a number of other like. 
Fourthly, now break out another sort, earnestly affirming and teach- 
ing, that we have no church, no bishops, no ministers, no sacramenti ; 30 
and therefore that all that love Jesus Christ ought with all speed to 
separate themselves from our congregations, because our assemblies are 
profane, wicked and antichristian. Thus have you heard of four de- 
grees for the overthrow of the state of the church of Ekigland. Now 
lastly of all come in these men that make their whole direction against 55 
the living of bishops and other ecclesiastical ministers ; that they shonld 
have no temporal lands or jurisdiction." 



157^0 Orden fin* refbrimtHon of aimn. 809 

do, the moderators shall immediately interrupt him, and 
put him to silence ; and notice to be made of the cause 
of interruption to the bishop, and the party interrupted 
not to be again admitted, without the bishop's approba- 
5 tion, and the knowledge of his oflfence. 

VII. That no man be suffered in the said exercises 
to make any invections against the laws, rites, policies, 
and discipline of the church of England, establidied by 
public authority. If any attempt the contrary, he is 

I o immediately to be commanded to silence. And the 
moderator or moderators, are therein to satisfy the audi- 
tory. And the speaker shall not be admitted to speak 
any more, till he, after public satis&ction made, shall 
obtain a new admission and approbation of the bishop. 

15 VIII. Item, Forasmuch as diyers ministers deprived 
from their livings, and inhibited to preach, for not obey- 
ing the public orders and discipline of the church of 
England, have intruded themselves in sundry places, to 
be speakers in the said exercises, and being excluded 

10 horn pulpits, have in the said exercises usually made 
their invections against the orders, rites, and discipline 
of the church, which hath been the cause to move diven 
to a mislike of the said exercises, (being of themselves, 
if they be well used, veiy profitable for many respects,) 

25 every bishop is to take strict order in his diocese, that 
hereafter none be suffered to be speakers in the said 
exercises, which remain dejmved or inhibited for the 
causes aforesaid, except they shall have before conformed 
themselves to order ; neither any other^ which shall not^ 

30 both by subscription and daily practice, conform him- 
self to public orders and discipUne of this chmreh hj law 
established. 

Edm. Gantuak, 



VOL. I. B b 



370 On the obttrvatim of Ember day$ emd L«nt. [LXXXV. 



LXXXV. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi R«g. Anglic 

Edm. Grindall I. 1576. Elizab. 19. 

The couyiciVs letter to the archbishop of Canterbury about 
the obsermtion of Embei* days and Lent. — Reg. Grindall 
in Strype's Life of Grindall, p. 226, 

A FTER our hearty commendations to your good lord- 
ship. The queen's majesty of late entering into 

The counciPs letter] Strype, Grind, p. 336. The reason here given 
for fasting was also urged in the Homily for Fasting (second part, 
p. 24 1 ) set forth in this reign : " What good English heart would not 5 
wish that the old ancient glory should return to the reahn, wherein it 
hath with great commendations excelled before our days^ in the furni- 
ture of the naw of the same ? What will more daunt the hearts of the 
adversaries than to see us well fenced and armed on the sea, as we be 
reported to be on the land ?" Similar motives " of worldly and civil " 
policy" appear in the proclamation issued by king Ekiward VI. in the 
year 1548^ and in a proclamation of queen Elizabeth of the year 1572. 
So again in the year 1579 and in other years afterwards, proclamatioiis 
were issued enjoining abstinence on the ground that encouragement 
was thereby given to the navy and the fisheries. Proclamations for the (5 
o])servance of Lent were continued during the reigns of James and 
Charics down to the period of the civil war, and were renewed after the 
Restoration. 

Bp. Cooper in his " Admonition to the people of England" (1589) 
says, '* How God hath placed this land there is no reasonable man bnt^ 
seeth. The sea are our walls, and if on these walls we have not some 
reasonable furniture of shii)s, we shall tempt God, in leaving open our 
country to the enemy, and not using those instruments which God 
hath appointed. Tlicre is no state of men, that doth so much furmth 
this realm with sufficient numbers of mariners for our navy, as fidien >5 
do. And how shall fishers be maintained, if they have not sufficient 
utterance for those things for which they travail ? And how can they 
have utterance, if every dainty-mouthed man, without infirmity and 
sickness, shall eat flesh at his pleasure ? They can not pretend religian, 
or restraint of Christian liberty, seeing open protestation is made bj JB 



157^0 On the olserration of Ember days and Lmt, 371 

consideration, how that, notwithstanding sundry good 
statutes and laws made heretofore by common consent in 
parliament to the contrary, the observ^ation of the Em- 
bering and fifty days is not so duly looked unto, as it 

5 ought to be, and as is requisite in policy for the main- 
tenance of mariners, fishermen, and the navy of the 
realm; hath thought convenient for the cause, first in 
her highness's own household to give strait charge unto 
the officers, for the observation of them: and it is or- 

lo dered, that they shall be more carefully looked unto and 
continued, than heretofore they have been. The like we 
have signified by her majesty's special appointment, to the 
lord mayor of the city of London, and other her majesty's 
oflficers and loving subjects abroad ; to the intent that by 

15 an unfeigned observation in all places throughout the 
realm of the said law already provided and meet to be 
put in execution in this respect, the state might take 
such benefit thereby, as was at the time of the making 
intended ; which we can assure your lordship is the only 

20 cause, why at this time the observation of them is so 
much urged. Howbeit for that it may be, that this her 
majesty's good meaning may either be misconstrued by 
some and depraved by others, as though any superstition 
(wherewith her majesty, God be thanked, is not to be 

"25 the law, that it is not for conscience sake, but for the defence and safety 
of the realm. Therefore this crying out against this law, is not only 
needless, but also undiscreet and factious." (p. 99.) 

Penalties were attached to the offence of eating flesh on forbidden 
days by the statute 2 and 3 Edw. VI. c. 19, and to other motives was 

30 added the encouragement that was thereby afforded to the trade of 
fishing. That motive is alleged as the only reason for the next statute 
on the subject, the 5 of Eliz. c. 5. The severity of this law was miti- 
gated by the statute 27 of Eliz. c. 11, which diminished the number 
of forbidden days, and lastly by the statute 35 of Elliz. c. 7. §.22. 

.=?5 which reduced the amount of the penalty. Strype, Mem. vol. ii. P. 2. 
p. 345. Ann. vol. ii. P. i. p. 307. Collier, vol. ii. p. 557. Hallam, vol. i. 

P- 430- 

Bb 2 



S7S On the observaiian of Ember days and L&ni. [LXXXV. 

touched or suspected) were thereby intended; for the 
meeting with and answering such slanderous conceits as 
may be spied and mistaken among her highneBs's sub- 
jects, we have thought good to require your lordship to 
give order within your province, that the ministers and s 
preachers, which are or shall be admitted to that function, 
be commanded, in their sermons and exhortations to the 
people to instruct and teach them to be willing and obe- 
dient to conform themselves and their families to the 
observation of the said laws, as in duty they are bound ; lo 
and further declare unto them, that the same is not 
required for any liking of popish ceremonies heretofore 
used, (which utterly are detested,) but only to miiintAin 
the mariners and navy in this land, by setting men a fish- 
ing. Which thing is so necessary for the realm, especially 15 
in these dangerous times, as no means are to be omitted, 
whereby it may be thought the same may be according 
to the laws brought to pass, and perfected accordingly. 

And for that the exhortations and doctrines of good 
and dutiful ministers may do much good in this matter, ^ 
both to remove scrupulousness and misconceits of some 
few, and also to induce the greater and conmion number 
to obey and observe the said laws; we have thought 
good to signify so much unto your lordship, that by the 
good assistance of you, and others under you, the matter 15 
might be furthered, and take such good success for the 
benefit of this realm, as we desire. From Hamptoncoort 
the 13th of December, m.d.lxxvi. 

Your lordship's right assured Umng friends^ 

W. Burghley. F. Knollys. ^ 

A. Warwick. Jam. Croftes. 

R. Leicester. Fra. Walsingham. 



1577] ^HMx MM6tfV$ tetter agemit emmMm, S78 



LXXXVI. 

Archiepifc Cant. Anno Christ! B^. Asi^m 

£dm. G&INDALL 9. 1577. EI.I2AB. I9. 

ueen Elizabeth's letter to the bishops throughout Enj^amd 
against conventicles^ and for the suppressing the exercise 
called prophesying. — Ex MS, CSotton. Gleopat F. 2. 
fol. 287. 



R 



&ther in God, we grete you wc 
greate greefe, that in sondiy parts 



Queen Elizabeth's letter] Qaeen Elizabeth hamng rignified lier pka- 
Bure to the archbishop that the ezerdae of pn^diecjing ahoiild be ai^ 
5 pressed, that preachers should be reduced toa amaUer munber, and tiliaft 
homilies should be read instead of aermona, the archbishop addreaaed a 
letter to her on the 20th of December 1576, in which he stated at 
length his reasons for approving and encouraging the ezerciae, and de- 
clared his inability to comply with her majeaty'B commanda. " For my 

10 own part/' he said, " because I am very well aasored both by reaaon 
and arguments taken out of the holy acriptures, and by eiiyeriience, fhe 
most certain seal of sure knowledge, that the aaid ezerdaea, for the in^ 
terpretation and exposition of the scriptures, and for ezhortatioii and 
comfort drawn out of the same, are both profitable to inoreaae loiow- 

15 ledge among the ministers, and tendeth to the edifying of the lieann» 
I am forced, with all humility, and yet plainly, to proCsai, tiliaft I aamwC 
with safe conscience and without the offenoe of the Majeaty of GodL 
give my assent to the siq>pre88ing of the aaid ezerdbea s mudi kaa oan 
I send out any injunction for the utter and univeraal aobreraion of the 

so same." (Strype, Grind, p. 569.) Endeavours were atiU made to bri^g 
the archbishop to compliance ; but aa they were entirely fruttleaa, the 
queen issued her letter of the 7th of May 1577, to the aeveral Inahc^; 
and early in the following month the court of Star-diamber confined 
the archbishop to his house, and aequestered him firom his juriadictioD 

35 for six months. 

The exercise was approved by the biahopa generally and by several of 
the queen's ministers ; and lord Bacon at a anbaeq[uent period in a letter 
to king James, in which he considered whether it wis deaunhte to re- 
new an exercise which had been praotiaed in the bfamdi for some years 

BbS 



374 Queen ElkabMs letter against eanveniides. [LXXXVI. 

our realme there are no Bmall numbers of persons, pre- 
suminge to be teachers and preachers of the church, 
though nether lefulie thereunto called, nor yet [fit] for 
the same, which, contrary to our lawes established for 
the publique divine service of Almighty God, and the ad- 5 
ministration of his holie sacraments within this church of 
England, doe daylie devise, imagine, propound, and putt 
in execution sundrie new rites and formes in the church, 
as well by their preachinge, readinge, and ministringe the 
sacraments, as well by procuringe unlawfiill assemblies of » 
a greate number of our people out of theire ordinarie 
parishes, and from place far distant, and that also of 
some of good callinge, (though therein not well advised) 
to be hearers of theire disputations, and new devised 
opinions uppon pointes of divinity, farre and unmeete of 15 
unlearned people, which manner of invasions they in some 
places call prophesinge, and in some other places exer- 

and had been suppressed in opposition to the advice and opinion of " the 
greatest and gravest prelate of the land/' added that " in his opinion it 
was the best way to frame and train up preachers, to handle the word ^ 
of God as it ought to be handled, that had been practised." And again in 
his tract on Church Controversies, " I know prophecying was subject 
to great abuse, and would be more abused now, because heat of conten- 
tions is increased : but I say the only reason of the abuse was, because 
there was admitted to it a popular auditory, and it was not contained >5 
within a private conference of ministers." Works, vol. ii. pp. 516. 543. 
It appears that the exercise instead of being suppressed, was encou- 
raged, in the province of York ; for archbishop Sandys in his visitation 
of the province in the following year gave directions for additional 
preaching, and enjoined the archdeacons to hold quarterly synods of the S^ 
clergy for the discussion of religious questions. And this is in accord- 
ance with what we know from other quarters of the prevalence of po- 
pery, rather than puritanism, in the northern province. " There are 
not," says Sadler, writing from thence, " ten gentlemen in this country 
who do favour and allow of her majesty's proceedings in the cause of 35 
religion." See No. LXXVI. Strj'pe, Grind, pp. 342. 444. Collier, 
vol. ii. p. 554. Neal*s Purit. vol. i. p. 231. Strype, Ann. vol. iii. P.i. 
p. 480. Hallam, Const. Hist. vol. i. p. 144. 



15770 Q^^^^ Elizaleth^B letter again&t coimntidee. 916 

cises ; by which manner of assemblies, great numbers of 
our people, speciallie the vulgar sorte, meete to be other- 
wise occupied with honeste labour for there livinge, ace 
brought to idleness, and seduced, and in a manner schjs- 
5 matically divided amongst themselves into varietie of 
dangerous opinions, not only in .townes and parishes, but 
even in some families ; and manifestlie therby incorraged 
to the violation of our lawes, and to the breache of com- 
mon order, and finalie to the offiance of all our quiett 

10 subjects, that desier to serve God accordinge to the uni- 
forme orders established in the ohuroh, whereof the se- 
quele cannot be but over dangerous to be suffired. Where- 
fore consideringe it should be the dutie of the bushopes, 
being the principall ordinarie officers in the church of 

>5 God, as you are, once to see this dishonors against the 
honor of God and the quietness of the church reformed, 
and that wee see that by the increase of these through 
sufferance, great daunger may ensue even to the decaye 
of the Christian foith, whereof we are by God appointed 

3o the defender, besides the other inconveniences, to the 
disturbance of our peaceable government ; we therefore, 
accordinge to authoritie we have, charge^ and command 
you as the bushopp of that diocesse with all manner of 
diligence, to take order throughe your diocesse, as well 

25 in places exempt as otherwise, that no manner of pub- 
lique and divine service, nor other forme of th' adminia- 
tration of the holie sacraments, nor any other rites or ce- 
remonies be in any sort used in the church, but direcdie 
accordinge to the orders established by our lawes. Nether 

30 that any manor of person be sufficed within your diocesse 
to preache, teache, reade, or anie wise exercise any func- 
tion in the church, but such as shall be lawfully approve 
and licensed, as persons able for there knowledge, and 
conformable to the ministrie in the rites and ceremonies 

35 of the church of England ; and where there sball not be 
sufficient able persons for learning in any caies to preaoht 

Bb4 



876 Archhuhop GrindalVB letter aboui canveniieUs. [LXXXVIL 

or instructe their cures, as were requisite, there shall yon 
limitte the curats to read the publike homilies, aceordinge 
to the injunctions heretofore by us geven for like causes. 
And furthermore considringe, for the great abuses that 
have byn in sundrie places of our realme, by reason of 5 
our forsaid assemblies, called exercises, and for that the 
same are not, nor have not ben appomted nor warranted 
by us, or by our lawes ; we will and straightlie charge 
you, that you also charge the same forthwith to cease, 
and not to be used ; but if any sliall attempt or continew, 10 
or renew the same, wee will you not onlie to comitte 
them unto prison, as maynteyners of disorders, but also to 
advertise us or our counsaile of the names and qualities 
of them, and of there mayntainers, and abettors^ that 
thereuppon for better example their punishment may be 15 
more sharpe for their reformation. And in these things 
we charge you to be so carefuU and vigilant, as by your 
negligence, if wee shall here of any personn attemptinge 
to offend in the premises without your correction or infor- 
mation to us, we be not forced to make some example or » 
reformation of you, aceordinge to your deserts. Yeven 
under our signet at our manner of Greenwhich the 7th 
of May, M.D.LXXVii. 



LXXXVII. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Christi Beg. An^ia 

Edm. Grind all i. 15 77* Elisab. aa 

The arMishop of Canterhurjf s letter to tJie lords of the 
privy council^ about the same. — Ibid. 

"DIGHT honourable and my singular good lords. I 
cannot denye but that I have bene comnmunded «5 

The archbishop of] *' Six months being now expired and gnvwing 
towards the latter end of November, the lord treaBurer sent a private 



I577*] ArchMskop GrindalVs letter abatU canventides. 8T7 

bothe by the quene's majestye herself, and also by divers 
of your honourable lordships in her name, to suppresse all 
those exercises within my province, that are commonly 
called prophesies. But I doe protests before Godd, the 

5 judge of all hartes, that I did not of any stubbomess or 
wilfulness refuse to accomplishe the same, but only upon 
conscience ; for that I found suche kinde of exercise set 
downe in the holie scriptures, and the use of the same to 
have continued in the primitive church. And was per- 

^o swaded that (the abuse being refonned, which I alwaies 
offered myselfe reddie to labour in) the said exercise 
might yet serve to the greet profitte of the church ; and 
feared that the utter suppressing of them wolde bread 
offence. And therefore was a most humble sutor unto 

•5 her majestic, that I might not be made the chief instru- 
mente in suppressinge the same. Yet not prejudicing or 
condemninge any, that in respecte of pollicie or other- 
wise, sholde be of contrary judgement, or beinge of au- 
thoritie sholde suppresse them. For I knowe right well, 

'io that there be some things of that nature, wherein di- 
verse men may be of diverse opinions, and abownde in 
their owne sense (being not repugnante to the analogie 

and kind message to the archbishop by Groodman, dean of Westminster, 
containing some account after what manner the Star-chamber would 

a 5 proceed in his business, and withal his lordship's directions to him, how 
he should demean himself in respect of the offence he gave the queen 
by the exercises. . . .The archbishop thought not fit to comply so far as 
was advised, but still esteeming himself not to have done amiss, he 
would not ask pardon, which supposed a fault. Nor did he appear in 

30 person before the lords in the Star-chamber, but sent an humble writ- 
ing to them the next day, viz. November the 30th.. . .He was not re- 
stored to his liberty, nor the exercise of his jurisdiction, as yet. Nor 
do I find that he ever after much enjoyed the queen's favour ; inso- 
much that he was desirous of resigning his archbishopric." Strype, 

35 Grind, pp. 348. 350. 354. Collier, vol. ii. p. 560. Neal's Purit. vol. i. 

P- 234. 



878 Archbishcp GrindalTs letter about canwniicles. [LXXXVII. 

of faithe) without any prejudice to their Balvation, or anj 
prejudice of other to other. Notwithstanding, howsoever 
others, being otherwise perswaded, might saflie doe yt ; 
yet I thought it not safe for me (being so perswaded in 
mynde) to be the doer of that, whereof my owne harte 5 
and conscience woulde condenme me. And whereas I 
have susteyned the restrainte of my liberty, and seques- 
tration of my jurisdiction, nowe by the space of six 
mouthes, I am so far from repininge thereat, or thinkiugc 
myself injuriouslie or hardlie dealte withal therein at her i" 
majesty's haunds, that I doe thankfully imbrace and 
franklie with all humilitie acknowledge her priucelye, 
gratiouse, and rare clemency towards me, who havinge 
authoritie and power to have used greater and sharper 
severitie againste me, and for good policie and example n 
thinkinge it so cxj^ediente, hath notwithstanding dealte 
so mcrciiully, mildlye, and gentlye with me. 

But the greatestc griefe, that ever I have hadd or have, 
h the loss of her majesties favoiu*, and the susteyninge of 
the displeasure of so gratiouse a soveraigne ; by whome » 
the churche and realme of Englande hath ben so longe, 
so happilie governed ; and by whom myselfe privntelie, 
and speciallie above other subjects, have received so 
many, and so great benefits above all my dcservinge. 
For the recoverye of whose gratiouse favor, I moste^s 
humblye beseclie your lordships to be a meanes to her 
majostie for me. The which obteyned, I shall esteme 
farre above all worldlie benefitts whatsoever. And I 
proteste here before Godd, and your honours, that not 
onely my dewtifull and humble obedience to her majestie ^ 
shal be suche, as she shall have no cause to repente her of 
her graciouse goodness, and clemencie shewed unto me, 
but also that by nioste ferventc, hartie, and daylie praier 
(as I have done hitherto) so 1 will contynewe, accordinge 
to my bownden dewtie, to make moste eameste Bute untois 



J5770 Quee» EKzabe&'s letter to /Mid p$tpi0^ 899 

AUmightde Godd for the longe preservation of her ma- 
jesties most happie xaigne, to the unspeakable benefitt ,of 
the church and realme of Einglande. 89 November, 

M.D.LXXVn. 

5 Ek)M . Camtuas. 



LXXXVIIL 

Anchiepiac Cant. /^MufO Chrifti JfL^. ^IVMb 

Edm. Orindall 7, 1577* Elizab. 90. 

Queen Elizabeth^s letter to John Wkitff^f bishop of Wor^ 
cesteTy to forbid prophecies, — Stiype's Life of Whitgift, 
p. 81. 

13 IGHT reverend fother in Gk)d, etc. Considecmg tiuit 

our chief care and study is, to see the good laws, 

which are set forth for the quiet government of this our 

realm, and among other things as the chiefest, that the 

lo orders established in the church for the advancement of 
God's glory, may be duly observed, and an uniform unity 
maintained among the clergy, and other our good sub- 
jects ; which will be the better done and continued, by 
the diligence of the ordinary, and by the inatracti^m and 

15 travel about the diocese by personal visitation^ as is meet, 
that he may rather see than hear, vi4iat is meet ^to ^be by 
him reformed; and understanding, that of late jBars 
there hath been used in divers dioceses of this jpealm a 
certain public exercise, or, as they call it, prophecying, by 

3o certain persons pretending a more pwty, jby the mitqner 
of the doing thereof, evil eflEbct hath eoBued in some 
places, to our grief, among the unlearned sort^ easy to be 
carried with novelties ; therefore, for certain good causes 
moving us, we do vnll and conHnand you» forthvnih, upop. 

25 Queen EUxabeih's letter] Strype, Whitg. vol. L p. i^. 



380 The eounciTs letter to artMiskcp GrMUU. [LXXXIX. 

the receipt hereof, to make express order throughout all 
your diocese, that all such prophecies be forborne, and 
none other exercise be suffered to be publicly used, 
than preaching by persons learned, discreet, conformable, 
and sound in religion, heard and allowed by you without 5 
partiality, and reading homilies in such sort, as is set 
forth by public authority, by the injunction and order of 
the book of common prayer. And further that you sig- 
nify unto us, or to some of our privy council attending 
about our person, the names of all persons, of what degree 10 
soever the same be, that are the setters forth and main- 
tainers of such exercises, and in what places, as also of 
such as shall impugn this order; and what you shall 
have done herein from time to time ; hereof not to fail, as 
ye tender our pleasure, and will avoid the contrary at 15 
your peril. 



LXXXIX. 

Archiepiflc Cant. Anno Christi R^. Aii|^a 

Edm. Grindall 3. '579* Elisab. ai. 

A letter from tJte lords of Hie queerCs council to the arch- 
bishop of Cant, concerning a libel printed against her 
marriage with Monsieur the French king's brother. 
Reg. Grindall, in Stiype's Life of GrindaU, Append, 
p. 92. seqq. 

A FTER our right hearty commendations to your 
-^^ good lordship ; you shall understand, how of late 

A letter from the lords] The book which gave occasion to this order 
of council was written by a puritan of the name of Stubbs, of linoblii't 
Inn, and was entitled^ " The discovery of a gaping gulph, wberdnlo 
England is hke to be swallowed by another French marriage, &c." 
The queen was greatly displeased by the boldness of this book* in pit- 



15790 The eomciFi letter ^ ordMikp Ghrkid^ 881 

hath been imprinted within the citj of London a certain 
libel, entitled, ** The gaping golph," wherein the author, 
under the pretence of misliking of some dealings treated 
of between her majesty, and the duke of Aiyou, the 

5 French king's brother, in yeiy deed seemeth to go about 
to draw her majesty's subjects into some mistrust and 
doubt of her highness's said actions, as though thereby 
some alteration were like to ensue, especially in religion, 
which her highness hath heretofore established and main- 

lotained, and is fully determined with the assistance of 
God's goodness and grace to uphold and maintain during 
her life, yea and even with the hazard of her own person; 
whose constancy in that behalf cannot in reason be called 
in question, if with thankfulness it be thought on, how 

15 her majesty hitherto, for the maintenance of the same^ 
hath willingly sustained the malice of the great and 
mighty princes her neighbours, as one that wholly de- 
pendeth on God's providence, with assurance that so long 
as she shall continue a nurse to the church, she shall 

ao never lack for merciful assistance. 

Notwithstanding, forasmuch as we know, that diyere 
of the said books have been seditiously cast abroad and 

dieting seriouB dangers to the religion md government of the mtiQii, 
from a connection with the royal ftmily of France ; but ahe appears to 

35 have been still more indignant at the Kbela it oontained upon the peraon 
and character of the duke himself, for whom ahe entertained a ttrong 
affection. Stubbs was convicted as a libeller and condemned to loae 
his right hand. The queen's affection for the dnke, lAkh has been 
much disputed, is well described in a sonnet of lamentatioii said to 

30 have been written by her on his departure from T^gland aoon after- 
wards. It may be seen in Ashmole's MSS. yol. dedyxxi. p. I4t. 
Comp. Strype, Grind, p. 360. Aylm. p. 40. Ann. vol. ii. P. 3. p. 3x8* 
Neal's Purit. vol. i. p. 241. Collier, vol. ii. p. 573. HaHam, Cooat. 
Hist. vol. i. pp. 135. 250. Harington, Nng» Antiqw, vol. i. pp. 

.=*5 «43 — >6i- Lingard, vol. v. p. 356. 

During the suspension oi the archbishop hb jnriadiction was exer* 
cised by his officers. 



S8S The anmciTs letter to arehHshop Orindatt. [LXXXIX. 

dispersed in sundry places of this realm, and have good 
occasion to think the same hath been done within your 
lordship's diocese ; by the reading whereof her majesty's 
good subjects, especially those of the clergy, may perhaps 
by overlight credit, upon vain suspicious and presump-s 
tions be induced to think and speak otherwise of her 
majesty's doings, than either they have cause to do, or it 
becometh dutiful and obedient subjects ; her majesty for 
the removing of all such doubts, as may be conceived in 
that behalf, and the better confirming of her fiuthfiil ser- lo 
vants in such a good opinion of her highness, as both her 
doings and government over them (the like whereof 
never happened within this realm) have deserved, and 
appertaineth before God and men unto their duties ; hath 
at this present caused a proclamation to be made, printed, 15 
and jmblished, which we send your lordship herewith. 
Upon the receipt whereof her majesty's pleasure is, that 
wth as much speed as you conveniently may, you should 
assemble the special noted preachers and other eccle- 
siastical persons of good calling within your diocese, and » 
upon the reading of the said proclamation, to signify unto 
them her highness's constant and firm determination to 
maintain the state of religion without any alteration or 
change in such sort as hitherto she hath done ; and that as 
heretofore she could not by any persuasion or practice of 25 
sundry adversaries be brought to alter or change the same, 
so now much less her meaning is at this present, by any 
treaty with the said duke to do the like ; who hath here- 
tofore shewn himself a friend to those of the religion 
even with the hazard of his estate and life (a thing not<H i» 
riously known, though by another of the libels it be 
otherwise untruly given out) and doth deserve in respect 
of the honour he did of late to her majesty, in vouch- 
safing to come and see her in such a kind and confident 
manner, without respect of the peril he did expose him- 35 
self to in the said voyage, both by the sea and by the 



1579-] ^^ catmeiTs letter to arehhiskop 

land, to be honoured, and esteemed of all those that tnily 
love her highness. 

Ye shall also admonish them, that in their sennoiiff 
and preachings, they do not intermeddle with any sack 
5 matter of estate, being in very dJBod not incident, nor 
appertaining to their profession ; but commanding them 
to contain themselves within the limits and bomoids of 
their callings, which is to preach the gospel of Christ iat 
all purity and singleness, without entangling and con- 
ic founding themselves in secular matters, wherewith they 
ought to have nothing to do at all ; but mther teach t\ut 
people to be thankful towards Almighty God for the 
great benefits both of liberty of conscience, peace, and 
wealth, which they have hitherto enjoyed by her ma» 
15 jesty's good means, and to beseech him to continue and 
increase his blessings over us, to the intent that in aHf 
humbleness and obedience under her gracious govern- 
ment, we may lead a quiet and Christiaa life, rather than 
by intermeddling in such matters impertinent to their 
90 calling, go about to give occasion of distrust or disquiet- 
ness among the subjects of this realm. By which their 
unorderly dealings there cannot but grow great prejudice 
to the cause of religion, which mi^ be perhaps pretended, 
but in very deed is like by such means rather to be 
35 hindered than furthered. 

And to such of the said preachers as dwell in remote 
places and cannot be present at the said assembly, you 
shall signify so much by your letters. And in case any 
of them shall understand, that any persons whatsoever by 
30 the said books, or otherwise, shall have been seduced, and 
carried into any such doubt or mistrust of religion, or 
prejudice like to ensue in this realm, ^ou shall charge 
them by all godly and Christian persuasions, to do their 
best endeavour to remove all such undutiful and unneces* 
35 sary conceits ; being £Etr contrary to her majesty's most 
gracious meaning. And in case they shall not be able so 



884 Ths caunciTs letter to arMishcp Grin^ [LXXXIX. 

to prevail as were convenient, but shall understand, that 
either some other persons shall otherwise deal in this 
matter, or that the people rest not therewith satisfied, 
and so shall think that some fiirther order is necessary to 
be taken in that behalf, you shall charge them forthwith $ 
to give notice thereof unto you, the ordinary. And there- 
upon you, by your authority, shall call such persons be- 
fore you, as in whom you shall find any cause to be 
reformed ; and by your information or otherwise, correct 
them in their error, so as no further inconvenience follow w 
by such disordered behaviour. 

And so requiring your lordship, that here and there 
may be no want of your diligence, as you tender her ma- 
jesty's service, and will answer to the contrary at your 
peril, we bid you right heartily farewell. From Green- is 
wich the 5. Octob. m.d.lxxix. 

Your lordship* s very loving friends^ 

Tho. Bromely, cane. H. Sydney. 

Will. Burghley. F. Walsingham. 

Hunsdon. Tho. Wilson. » 

F. Knollys, 



I 



^579-} ff^ coumnts IttUr to mnMithof OrMall. S86 



xc. 



Archiepiso. Cant Anno Chrigd Rig. Angela 

Edm. Orivdall 4. I579* Elieab. 32. 

The councils letter to the archbishop of Canterbury can^ 
cerning some preachers^ that refused to celebrate the 
cofnmunion. — Reg. Grindall in Strj^e's Life of Grin- 
dall, p. 244. 

A FTER our hearty commendations. Whereas her 
-^^^ majesty is credibly informed, that divers and sundry 
preachers in this realm do only apply themselves to the 
ofSce of preaching, and upon some light conceit to thd 

5 dishonour of God, the breach of her majesty's laws, the 
offence of good subjects, and the great contempt of the 
sacraments, which groweth thereby, do separate them* 
selves from the executing of the one part of the office of 
a priest, which is as well to minister the said sacraments^ 

10 as to preach the gospel ; and that by this occasion some 
are counted and termed, " reading,'' and " ministering," 
ministers^ and some preachers and no sacrament min- 
isters ; therefore we are in her miyesty's name to require 
your lordship to take a view of all such within your 

■5 diocese, as do so disjoin the one part of the function from 
the other, and do not at certain times in the year as well 
minister the holy sacraments in their own person, in what 
place soever they receive any portion for preaching ; and 
yourself by your ecclesiastical censures to compel them 

20 to execute both. And such as you shall find intractable, 
to send them up to us, and to certify us immediately 
upon your said view, how many you find of those recusants 
within your diocese, that we may thereupon satisfy her 

The council's letter] Strype, Grind, p. 362. 
VOL. I. C C 



^^ H^riscoparum epistoh ad r^ffinam [XCI. 

majesty in that behalf. And so we commit your grace to 
God. From London the 17th day of January. 

Your very hving friends^ 

Tho. Bromely, cane. Jam. Crofle. 

W. Burghley. Chr. Hatton. 5 

E. Lincohi. Fra. Walsingham. 

J. Sussex. Tho. Wilson. 

J. Hunsdon. 



XCI. 

Archiepiio. Cant. Anno Ghristt Bcf. Aiigli» 

Edm. Orikdall 5. 1580. Elizab. aa. 

Episcoporum epistola ad reginam Elizabetham pro restoM^ 
ratione archiepiscopi Cant Edm. Grifklall.^^Ex MS. in 
Hyper. Bodlei. Bibl. Oxon. 

lyrULLA propemodum res est, serenissima regina, de 
qua verius nostra opinione et rectius evangelii pro- 
fessores Romanae sedis insolentiam reprehendant, quamio 
quod intolerabili quadam arrogantia non seipsam mode 
evexerit supra reliquas omnes ubivis terramm Ghristi ee» 
clesias, sed principes etiam dignitate pnestantes, et sum- 
mos totius orbis monarchas ita in suam potestatem rede- 
gerity ut tanquam subditos quodammodo et beneficiarios 15 



Episcoporum epistola] Neither this letter, nor another whidi vppmn 
to have been addressed to the queen in the year 1580 by the memben 
of the convocation (see Fuller, b. 9. p. 119. Heylin, Hist. IVesfayt 
p. 288. Collier, vol. ii. p. 570), though both of them written in tiw 
most respectful and submissive terms, had the desired effect. The ndi- m 
bishop still continued under sequestration. The queen was reaohed to 
exercise her power over a prelate, who had not only refused to comply 
with her demand on one important occasion, but had also, in his me- 
morable letter to her, entreated that in all matters of faith and religioii 
she would take the advice and <x)un8el of her bishops and dirinee, aed 15 
would never pronounce her sentence as if it rested upon human aii« 
thority. Strype, Grind, p. 570. 



J 



J 580.] pro r&stauraiume Edm. Grtndall. 887 

suos legibus, institutis, mandatis obstrinxerit. Ab hao 
enim pontificia tyrannide sacrosanctam principum m%jes^ 
tatem ab optimo et maximo Deo constitutam et confir- 
matam aliquot jam secala vidimus infra ordinem redactam, 
5 projeetam et prope conculcatam. Non libet hie comme- 
morare Alexandros, Gregorios, B<Miiftcio(9» et false cogno- 
minatos Clementes, nee qua meriti sunt ratione oommon- 
strare, quam indignis modis traetaverint summa potestate 
praeditos imperatores et eximiis virtutibus omatos. Nulla 

10 respublica fuit, nullum regnum, in quo non suos habuit 
Romana curia procuratores et administros, horrenda qua- 
dam fulminandi potestate terribiles, quos principibus et 
summo magistratui semper opponerent Non mirandum 
igitur, si majores tui, dignitate et prudentia pnecellentes 

15 regesy parum grates habuerunt Anselmos^ Becketos, Lang- 
tones, et id genus alios, quos sibi tanquam compedes in« 
jectos yidebant, ut non quae ipsi pro regia dignitatem pro 
legibus, pro moribus vellent fisM^re, sed quae liberet pon^ 
tifieibus administrare cogerentur. Inmianmi banc et 

20 plane non ferendam superbiam evangelii dootrina paucifl 
annis, sit Deo gratia, et ex hoc regno, et ex aliis pie- 
risque rebuspublicis, prout merita est, profligavit. Nam 
et nos, qui sub tuae migestatis patrodnio Yivimus, et re- 
liqui omnes quicunque sunt in aliis locis verbi praeconefi, 

S5 divinae scripturae normam insequentes, eandem pro eb' 
atque decet et pro viribus oppugnamus, ut impiam, soe**^ 
leratam, et sacrilegam. Vere igitur si homineB snrtimaro 
Yoluerint, facile constituent, post propagatam hiaee proxi- 
mis annis evangelii lucem, sublimem illam regum et prin-» 

Bocipum auctoritatem, multis antea seeulis enerratam, re- 
vixisse quodammodo, et in pristinam dignitatem resti- 
tutam. Injustam igitur et (quod oum bona tuae nugee- 
tatis venia dicamus) a Christiana charitate alienam 
calumniandi materiam arripiunt, quo bisce temporibus, 

53 ut nostram existimationem convellant, episcopos accu- 
sant, tanquam immoderatae dominationis eupiditate ob- 

cc S 



888 Episccporum episfofa ad reginam [XCI. 

strictos. In evangelicis enim ecclesiis quicunque episcopi 
et ministri, vel cum maxima sunt potestate, quam quidem 
legibus sustincrc possmit, hoc solum sibi niuneris vendi- 
cant ipsis a Deo impositum, ut libera conscientia queant 
salutarem verbi doctrinam et divina Christi mysteria ad ' 
evangelii normam administrare, et quorumvis hominum 
errata, vitia, scelera, ea, qua decet, gravitate reprehendeie. 
Quicquid prseterea in rebus humanis auctoritatis habent, 
id a principe et summo magistratu proficisci et facile et 
libenter agnoscimus : tantum abest, ut tanquam immunes lo 
nos eximi cupiamus a potestate principum. Haec cum ita 
sint, sanctissima princeps, et cum hoc Inodo simus omnes 
animati, non possumus non vehementer dolere, et in hac 
luce evangelii cum geniitu et lachrymis prosequi vicera 
reverendissimi Cantuariensis eximii Christi praesulis, et>5 
summi in ecclesia Anglicana sacerdotis Dei, quem jamdiu 
videmus maximo ecclesiae non dedecore modo, sed detri- 
mento etiam in summa tuae majestatis indignatione con- 
stitutmn. Molestiam certe nostram et animi acerbitatem 
tamdiu meliora sperantes repressimus, ut jam non imme- m 
rito vereamur ab omnibus bonis vel ingratitudinis» vel 
negligentiae, vel impietatis reprehensionem. Pro legia 
igitur mansuetudine tua ignosces, ut speramus, audacis 
nostras, si nunc tandem Justus animi dolor erumpat^ et 
hisee Uteris seipsum prodat apud majestatem tuaiiL*s 
Quamobrem pro Christiana pietate et pro imposita noUs 
ecclesiarum cura et solicitudine vehementer cum officio 
nostro in hoc tempore conjunctum arbitramur, ut de- 
missis prccibus tuam majestatem imploremuSp et per 
pietatem tuam to et regalis animi clementiam obseciemuB 50 
et obtcstemur ; ut ilium digneris in gratiam recipeie, et 
hujus ofTensie notam vel nostris votis, vel ipsius dignitatis 
vel ecclesiae saluti condones. Cujuscunque sit ordinisi 
qui ofienderit, si non crimen sit capitale, paululum sup- 
plicii satis videri poterit principi et natura clementissimae, iS 
et religionis christianae rationibus insigniter instructe; 



1580.] pro restauratione Edm. GrindaU. 389 

niulto magis si deliquerit praeclarus aliquis Christi min- 
ister, et summus regni tui praesul. In hac causa fortassis 
parum ille se morigerum pra^buit, et regie mandate tue 
minus ebsequentem. In caeteris prefecte rebus omnibus 
5 ilium audemus confirmare et tuae majestatis observan- 
tissimum civem, et regni hujus tui, si quis alius, fidissi- 
mum subditum, et ecclesiae Christi dignissimum praesulem, 
quod et florentem evangelii veritatem suis virtutibus 
egregie promovit, et eandem afflictam, et ex hoc regno 

loprofligatam nunquam deseruit, sed cum omnium rerum 
suarum, tum etiam vitae periculo, ut fidus Christi alumnus, 
exulantem illam, et in quasvis terras ab hominibus in- 
gratis projectam prosecutus est. In quo quidem afflic- 
tissimo suo tempore nihil arbitramur illi tantum intulisse 

15 molestiae et acerbitatis, quantum in hoc peperit, quod 
cum aliquo ecclesise dedecore, et cum omnium bonorum 
dolore, in tuam sanctissimse principis et evangelii protec- 
tricis offensam et indignationem incident. Cogitat ille 
saepe, et id quidem certe cum gemitu et lachrymis, in 

10 quantum ea res timorem conjecerit caeteras omnes evan- 
gelicas ecclesias, quae ex hujus offensionis auditione gra- 
vissimos dolores conceperunt, multa nostris ecclesiis et 
maxima pericula metuentes. Perspicit etiam procul- 
dubio, quos spiritus hujus rei nuncium addiderit, et quan- 

25 tas spes concitarit hostibus evangelii, qui et tuae sacra- 
tissimae majestatis, et regni hujus tui florentissimi, et 
sanctissimae Christi ecclesiae ruinam et interitum avide et 
non dissimulanter expectant. Parce igitur illius viri dolo- 
ribus, cujus vitam ipsi scimus acerbam esse, quod cum 

30 tuae celsitudinis offensione et evangelicae professionis non 
levi contumelia conjuncta sit. Parce gemitibus ecclesiae 
pastorem suum, et a tua benignitate constitutum mode- 
ratorem desiderantis. ToUatur per tuam pietatem et 
animi celsitudinem insolentissimis et tuis et ecclesiae et 

35 servatoris Christi hostibus tarn indigna gloriandi et insula 
tandi materia. Erige piissimorum civium animos in metu 

c c 3 



390 Episcoparum epktola ad reginam i^^^- 

jam et squalore et luctu jacentes, et multa, quae poasnnt 
hac occasione pro nostris peccatis incidere, pericula ti- 
mentes, tuam majestatem demisse, et humiliter precamur, 
ut in hac causa teipsam velis consuleie, et ingenitam 
animi lenitatem in consilium adhibere, neque sinas alionim 5 
(si quae forte erunt) occultas criminationes te minus pro- 
pensam ad misericordiam reddere, quam vel natures tuae 
bouita^, vel Christiana pietas, vd sanctissimae principia 
dignitas ferat. Habemus nos, qui in istis periculoria rim ia 
temporibus sub tua majestate gubemationem eocleBiafih>o 
ticam sustinemus, adversarios et sibi repugnautes^ et 
utrinque noe infestis animis petentes, occultoB Bcilioet 
papisticae corruptionis fetutores ab uno latere, et curio0Oi 
quosdam rerum novatores ab altero. Utrisque pro eo 
atque debemus, et pro viribus nostris nos opponimii8» >5 
quia utrosque videmus publican ecclesiae tranquillitali et 
quieti jmrum studiose faventes. Mirandum igitur non 
est, si ex utroque genere sint nonnulli, qui occultis cuni* 
culis, diversa tamen ratione, et reverendissimi Cantuir 
riensis, et nostram omnium expectationem indesineiiter ^ 
impetant. Hujusmodi iniquissimis rationibus Eusebiua 
scribit Coustantinum, pietate et prudentia praecellentem 
imperatorem, ab Athanasii invidis et malevolis ita circom- 
ventum esse, ut sanctissimum ilium patrem et fbrtissimiim 
orthodoxae fidei propugnatorem, tanquam hominem pn^- n 
fraetum et contumacem, cum incredibili christianae reli- 
gionis detrimento, et dignitate privarit, et in exilium 
projecerit. Sed prospiciet, ut speramus, benignus Dens 
ecclcsiae, nee patietur illo, qui corda regum habet in 
manu sua, ut singularis tua pietas adversariorum inju9-3o 
tissimis querelis abducatur in odium uostri. Non dubi- 
tamus quin ex omnibus ordinibus subditos habeas fide et 
eximia pietate pncstantes, quibus vita etiam sine tua 
majestate ingrata videbitur. Ilabes tamen proeuldubio 
non paucos, qui licet bonorum civium commendationem 15 
studiose aucupentur, sine te se vivere posse sperant et 



^5^o.] pro r^gtauraiume Edm. ChrindaU. 891 

fortassis etiam expectant. Sed nos, quos ecclesbe guber- 
nationi praefecisti, cum a tua majestate disceseerimuSy 
nihil habemus humanum, quod speremus vel ad unum 
diem posse imminentem cervicibus et capitibus nostris 
5 calamitatem avertere. Dementes igitur essemus et Tehe- 
menter stupidi, addimus etiam impii et scelemti, si non 
omni cura, diligentia, studio, pietate salutem tuam et in- 
columitatem complecteremur. Errare poterimu8» et labi, 
et labimur frequenter onmes (homines enim sumus) sed 

locujusmodi animos geramus erga tuam majestatem et 
regni tui tranquillitatem, iUe solus novit^ qui preceB 
nostras et gemitus audit quotidie ipBius misericordiam 
implorantium, ut te nobis diu consenret piam, propitianiy 
et benignam principem. Sed aequo longius yidemus no8 

15 provectos et celsitudini tue nimium molestos* Quod w* 
liquum est, hoc unum enize precamur, ut quae semper 
vel in graviter delinquentes mitissimfle principis laudem 
consecuta sis, ne velis nunc commotior aut iratior Tideri 
in praeconem illius Christi, qui et initio tuam innooentiam 

20 contra hostium tuorum conatus protexit» et in amplissimi 
regni solio positam cum immortali tui nominis gloria 
ecclesiae suae nutricem et patronam constituit, et const!-' 
tutam mirabiliter tuetur et servat, potentisdmisque a4Tor- 
sariis etiam virginem formidabilrai reddit. SingulaiiB 

95hujus beneficii memoriam si grato animo ut hactenus 
et pietatis officiis complecteris, non dubium quin idem 
Deus tuam majestatem et tuis et hide reipublicae et suae 
gloriae diu incolumem conservabit : quod nos etiam Totis 
ardentissimis precamur. 

30 TtuB majestatis observantissimi episcopi pramneia 



London. Winton. Elien. Hereford. 
Lichfeld. Meneyensis. Petriburgensis. 
Lincoln. Norwicensis. Sarum. 
35 Wigom. Roflfensis. 

Has literas Lincolniensis episcopus tradidit reginae* 

c c 4 



392 The form of abjuralwn for th« /(UmI^ of love. [XCII. 



XCII. 

Archiepiac Cant. Anno Christi Reg. AngUaB 

£dm. Orindall 5. 1580. Elizab. ai. 

Thef(yi*m of abjuration tendered to those of the family of 
love, — Fuller's Eccles. Hist. 1. IX. pag. 113. 

\1/^H0S0EVER teacheth, that the dead, which are 
fallen asleep in the Lord, rise up in this day of his 

The form of abjuration] This form of abjuration wiD be better under- 
stood on a comparison with the following passage from Hooker, EIccl. 
Pol. Pref. p. 184. " When they of ' the feunily of love* have it once 5 
in their heads that Christ doth not signify any one person, but a quality 
whereof many are partakers ; that to be ' raised' is nothing else but to 
be regenerated, or endued with the said quality ; and that when sepa- 
ration of them which have it, from them which have it not, is here 
made, this is ' judgment ;' how plainly do they imagine that the scrip- 10 
ture every where speaketh in the favour of that sect ?" Comp. Keble's 
note. See No. XCIV. Strype, Ann. vol. ii. P. i . p. 556. Whitg. vol. i. 
p. 421. Collier, vol. ii. p. 569. 

** The false prophet H. N. [Henry Nicholas] the most illuininated 
father of * the family of love,' counterfeiting the imitation of the pro- 15 
phet of God in this place (Isai. Ixii. i.) doth take upon him to tell the 
world of a far greater captivity, not of 70 years, but of more than a 
thousand and five hundred years ; that is, ever since the apostles' times. 
Wherein (saith he) ' darkness of error hath overshadowed the earth ; 
the light of life hath been made unknown ; and the truth hath been hid, 30 
as under the mask of popery, until this day of love.' He tumeth 
the whole doctrine of our salvation into a vain mystery, and an allego- 
rical conceit of his own ; leaving the church no mediator at all, besides 
himself. He hath framed a platform or new kingdom and gospel of his 
own invention, bearing this title ; Evangelium regni Dei. Into this 15 
kingdom as Vice-gerents, he hath brought, for our ministers, his * Se- 
niores sanctse intelligcntise, Patres familiae Christi ;' and for our arch- 
bishops and bishops, his ' Primates,' his ' Seniores parentes,' and I know 
not how many illuminated and deified governors." Bancroft's Surrey, 30 
&c. p. 2. 



1580.] A letter abwU ikoBe tkai fM /rmn il^ dittr^. 898 

judgment, and appear unto us in godly gloiy, which shall 
henceforth live in us eyerlastingly with Christ, and reign 
upon the earth, is a detestable heretic. Whosoever 
teacheth, that to be bom of the Virgin Mary out of the 

5 seed of David, after the flesh, is to be expounded of the 
piu^ doctrine out of the seed of love, is a detestable he* 
retic. Whosoever teacheth, that Jesus Christ is come 
unto us according to his promise, to the end that all they 
which love God and his righteousness, and Christ and 

10 perfect being, might presently enter into true rest, which 
God has prepared from the beginning for his elect, and 
inherit the everlasting life, is a detestable heretic. 



XCIIL 

Archiepiac. Cant Anno Chmtl tLeg. Ang^ 

Edm. Orindall 5. 1580. Blieab. 99. 

The councils letter to the archbishop about those thatfeU 
off from the church of England. Stiype's life of Grin- 
dall, p. 254. 

A FTER our hearty commendations. Whereas the queen 
-^■^ hath been informed that divers persons within the 

15 province of Canterbury, both of the common and better 
sort, who of late time have been conformable to the laws 
of this realm concerning religion, are now fiJlen away, 
and have withdrawn themselves from coming to church, 
to the evil example of other her majesty's good subjects, 

20 and to the great offence of her highness, who doth not a 
little marvel by what means this relapse should happen ; 
having delivered sufficient authority unto your lordship, 
and others joined unto you by virtue of her commission 

The councWs letter'] Strype, Grind, p. 377. CdDier, voL ii. p. 57 1 . 



394 A letter about those that fell qff [XCIII. 

ecclesiastical, warranted by the laws of this realms 
whereby you might at all times have repressed the inso- 
lency, and corrected the disobediency of such, as therein 
should have presumed to offend, if such care and Yigilance 
had been used within your charge, as appertaineth. Her 5 
highness's pleasure therefore is, that for the present le- 
forming and punishing those that have, and do herein 
disobey the laws, you give order to have them forthwith 
convented before such, as do attend the execution of her 
majesty's high commission, and proceeded withal accord- m 
ing to the direction of the said high commission. And 
first, that consideration being had of such as haye been 
heretofore convented before the high commissioners, in 
what terras they stand for their conformity; how many of 
them are at liberty, and in what sort, and how many do 15 
remain committed, and where ; and such of them as shall 
be found at liberty, and do continue obstinate, to be 
returned to prison, and such further order to be taken 
with them and the rest, as is prescribed in the said com- 
mission. And for as much as a great deal of the cornip- «q 
tion in religion, grown throughout the realm, proceedeth 
of lewd schoolmasters, that teach and instruct children, 
as well publicly as privately in men's houses, infecting 
eachwhere the youth, without regard had thereunto (a 
matter of no small moment, and chiefly to be looked into 15 
by every bishop within his diocese) it is thought meet for 
redress thereof, that you cause all such schoolmasters, as 
have charge of children, and do instruct them either in 
public schools or in private houses, to be by the bishop of 
the diocese, or such as he shall appoint, examined touch- 30 
ing their religion. And if any shall be found corrupt and 
unworthy, to be displaced, and proceeded withall, as 
other recusants, and fit and sound persons placed in their 
rooms. 

And to the end her majesty may understand, what is 
shall be from time to time done in the execution of the 



1580.] from the church 0/ England. 805 

said commission, to give order, that certificate be made of 
the proceedings in the said commission unto us of her 
majesty's privy coimcil; wherein not doubting but you 
will answer her majesty's good expectation, according to 

5 the trust reposed in you, we bid your lordship heartily 

fBurewell. From the court at Nonsuch 18 June, h.d.lxxx. 

In obedience to which, the archbishop issued out his 

mandate to his officers June the 81. to make diligent 

inquisition throughout his diocese of the contents of the 

10 council's letters. And for the more effectual doing where- 
of he sent withal articles of inquiry enclosed, which were 
as follow. 

Inprimis, Diligently to inquire, what persons within 

your parish or charge, of what degree or calling soever 

15 they be, 'do absent themselves from their parish church 

upon pretence of conscience or religion ; and how long 

they have so done. 

II. Item, What persons have of late absented them^ 
selves from their parish church upon contempt or pre- 

40 tence aforesaid, that heretofore resorted thereunto. 

III. Item, What persons do you know within your 
parish, that have been heretofore convented before the 
queen's majesty's high commissioners for causes eocleoaa- 
tical, for religion, and especially for not coming to churchy 

35 that are at liberty, and yet have not conformed them- 
selves ? 

IV. Item, What schoolmasters are within your parish, 
and what their names are, that teach publicly or priP 
vately within any man's house within your parish, of 

30 what state, calling, or condition soever he or they be, in 
whose house or houses any such schoolmaster or teacher is? 

V. Item, Whether any such schoolmaster, or school- 
masters, is reported, known or suspected to be backward 
in the religion now established by the laws of this realm, 

35 that are thought any way to be secret hinderers thereof? 



396 A proclamation against the seetariei [XCIV. 



XCIV. 

ArchJepisc Cant. Anno Christi R^. Angliie 

Edm. Grivdall ,1;. 1580. Elizab. 22. 

A proclamation against the sectaries of the Family ofLote. 



By the qtieen. 

TIT'HEREAS by report of sundry of the bishops of 
this realm, and others, having cure of souls, the 
queen's majesty is informed, that in sundry places of her 
said realm, in their several dioceses, there are certain per- 
sons who do secretly in comers make privy assemblies of 5 
divers simple unlearned people, and after they have 

A proclamation] See No. XCII. The sect which called itself " the 
femnily of love*' had attracted notice in the year 1575. but not in aocfa a 
manner as to call for direct coercion. An Apology was published for 
them, from which it might be inferred that they then possessed no dis- to 
tinct opinions, but merely bound themselves to a more exalted interpre- 
tation of Christian duties, on the principle of imitating the great lore of 
Grod manifested in their creation and redemption. This principle, un- 
restrained by any confession of faith or system of discipline, natarally 
attracted to it the enthusiastic and irreg^ar spirits, that were at that 15 
time so prevalent ; and the sect itself became the receptacle for every 
variety of opinion and disorder, exposing itself to more particular notice, 
from its contempt for outward observances, and its opposition to the 
civil government. The " Evangelium Regni" of Henry Nicholas, who 
was acknowledged as the founder of the sect, is written in such a man- so 
ner as to embrace all religious persuasions, and permits aU parties to 
hold whatever sentiments they please, if they merely declare themselves 
to belong to the family of love. " Omnes vos o amatores veritatis, qui 
amabilem vitam charitatis diligitis, vocamini et invitamini." (cap. 41.) 
" Omnes peribunt, qui extra Christum, scu extra communionem chari- 15 
tatis manent." (Ibid.) A " Confutation*' of this sect was w ritten in the 
year 1579, the privy council called upon the convocation of the year 
1580 to notice t and the queen issued her proclamation against it ; but 



1580.] of the famUy of hw^ 9SI7 

craftily and hypocriticallj allured them to esteem them 
to be more holy and perfect men than others are, they do 
then teach them damnable heresies, directly contrary to 
divers of the principal articles of our belief and Christian 

5 faith, and in some parts so absurd and £Euiatical, as by 
feigning to themselves a monstrous new kind of speech 
never found in the scriptures, nor in ancient &ther or 
writer of Christ's church, by which they do move ignorant 
and simple people at the first rather to marvel at them, 

10 than to understand them ; but yet to colour their sect 
withal, they name themselves to be of the Family of 
Love, and then as many as shall be allowed by them to 
be of that family, to be elect and saved, and all others, of 
what church soever they be, to be rejected and damned. 

15 And for that upon conventing of some of them before the 
bishops and ordinaries, it is found that the ground of their 



it was so congemal with many of the qualities of our iuitttre» and bo 
closely connected with the general temper of those times, that we find 
it still described in publications of the year 1641, and continuing mider 

90 the same name, with its preachers and congregations, m the year 1645. 

Bp. Coop» said of the sect in 1589 (Admonition &e. p. 146) : " That 

peevish faction of ' the families of love' which have been breeding 

in this realm the space of these 30 years, and now npon confidence at 

the disgracing of the state of bishops and other ecdeaastical govemoray 

25 have put their heads out of the shell, and of late years have shewed 
themselves even in the prince's court." Fuller (Ch. Hist. Cent. 1 7. 
b. 1 o. p. 33), says that in his time they had obtained the name at 
Ranters ; and Leslie (Works, vol. ii. p. 609) considers the sect identkad 
with that of the Quakers, and gives the following evidence : " I have 

30 now before me the works (or part of them) of Henry Nidxoilaa, the 
father of ' the family of love ;' they were given to a friend of mine by 
a Quaker, with this encomium, that he bdieved he would not find 
one word amiss, or one superfluous, in the whole book, and com* 
mended it as an excellent piece. . • . Though he directs it ' To the 

35 family of love,' yet an ignorant Quaker might take that for his own 
family, and apply it to the Quakers." Strype, Ann. vol. ii. ?• i. p. 556* 
vol. ii. P. ii. p. 382. Grrind. 383. Neal's Purit. vd. i. p. 13 a. Collier, 
vol. ii. p. 687. Description of the Sect &c. (BodL C. 13, 14. Line.) 



398 A proclamation apaingi the sectaries [XCIV. 

sect is maintained by certain lewd, heretical, and seditious 
books, first made in the Dutch tongue, and lately trans- 
lated into English, and printed beyond the seas, and 
secretly brought over into the realm, the author whereof 
they name H. N. without yielding to him upon their * 
examination any other name, in whose name they have 
certainly books set forth, called, " Evangelium regni, or a 
joyftil message of the kingdom, documental sentences, the 
prophecy of the spirit of love, a publishing of peace upon 
the earth," and such like. And considering also it is"* 
found, that these sectaries hold opinion, that they may 
before any magistrate ecclesiastical or temporal, or any 
other person not being professed to be of their sect, 
(which they term the " Family of Love**) by oath or 
otherwise deny any thing for their advantage, so as though '5 
many of them are well known to be teachers and spread- 
ers abroad of these dangerous and damnable sects, yet by 
their own confession they cannot be condemned, whereby 
they are more dangerous in any Christian realm; therefore 
her majesty being very sorry to see so great an evil by » 
the malice of the devil first begun and practised in othar 
countries, to be now brought into this her realm, and 
that by her bishops and ordinaries she understandeth it 
very requisite, not only to have these dangerous heretics 
and sectaries to be severely punished, but that also all n 
other means be used by her majesty's royal authority, 
which is given her of God to defend Christ's church, to 
root them out from further infecting of her realm ; she 
hath thought meet and convenient, and so by this her 
proclamation she willeth and commandeth, that all her 30 
oflScers and ministers temporal, shall in all their several 
vocations, assist the archbishops of her realm, and all 
other persons ecclesiastical, having cure of souls, to 
search out all persons duly suspected to be either teachers 
or professors of the foresaid damnable sects, and by all 35 
good moans to jiroceed severely against them, being found 



J5^^^] o/th6/€mUy of lave. 990 

culpable, by order of the laws either ecclesiastical or 
temporal ; and that also search may be made in all places 
suspected for the books and writings maintaining the said 
heresies and sects, and them to destroy and bton. And 
5 wheresoever such books shall be found after the publica- 
tion hereof, in custody of any person, other than such 
as the ordinaries shall permit, to the intent to peruse the 
same for confutation thereof, the same persons to* be 
attached and committed to close prison, ther^ to remain, 

>o or otherwise by law to be condemned, until the same 
shall be purged and cleared of the same heresies, or shall 
recant the same, and be thought meet by the ordinary of 
the place to be delivered. And that whosoever in this 
realm shall either print, or bring, or cause to be brought 

'5 into this realm any of the said books, the same parsons to 
be attached and committed to prison, and to receive such 
bodily punishment and other mulct as fieuitois of damna- 
ble heresies. And to the execution heieof her nuyegty 
chargeth all her officers, and ministers, both ecclesiastical 

^ and temporal, to have special regard, as they will answer 
not only afore Grod, whose glory and truth is by these 
damnable sects greatly sought to be defaced ; but also 
will avoid her majesty's indignation, which in such cases 
as these are, they ought not to escape, if they shall be 

^5 found negligent and careless in the execution of their 
authorities. Given at our manor of Richmond the 
third of October, in the two and twentieth year of 
our reign. 

God save the queen*. 



400 The eoundTs letter about reeiuanti. [XCV. 



xcv. 

Archiepisc. Cant. Anno ChriRti R^. Angtis 

£dm. Grindall 6. 158 1. Elisab. 23. 

The couneWs letter to the archbishop about recusants. 
With tlie archbishop's directions of inqtdrtf far recur^ 
sants. Strype's Life of Grindall, p, 264. 

A FTER our right hearty commendations unto your s 
lordship. Whereas in the last sessions of parlia- 
ment there was upon good and advised deliberation by 



The counciVs letter] The statute 23 EHiz. c i, (an. 158^) (entitled 
an act to retain the queen's majesty's subjects in their due obedience), 
which gave occasion to this order of council, was itself occasioned by '^ 
the great exertions now made by the Romanists, by the encourage- 
ment they gave to insurgents, and by the hostile proceedings of foreign 
courts. In the year 1579 the well-known Jesuits Campion and Fur- 
sons arrived in England at the head of a mission, which was i^pointed 
to publish books and send forth emissaries throughout the kingdom. 15 
but w^ith the more specific object of inducing the Romamsts to carry 
the bull of pope Pius V. into effect. That their endeavours were 
attended with great success is evident from lord Burghley's tract 
entitled, '* Execution of Justice in flngland for treason and not for 
religion," and from the confession of one Hart which is contained in m 
it, and which probably formed one of the principal reasons for the 
severe statute, above noticed, of the ensuing parliament. Campion 
was executed Dec. 1. 1581, and Parsons soon afterwards escaped to 
the continent. A letter addressed by him to cardinal Allen, in which he 
gave some account of his mission and of the state of afiairs in England, 15 
may be seen in Strypc, Ann. vol. iii. P. 2. p. 418. Comp. Strype, 
Ann. vol. ii. P. 2. p. 352. Parker, vol. ii. p. 165. Whitg. vol. i. 
p. 180. Wood, Ath. Oxon. vol. i. p. 474. vol. ii. p. 63. Collier, vol. ii. 
p. 569, &c. Hallam, Const. Hist. vol. i. pp. 154. 157. Lingard, vol. ▼. 

p. 380. JO 

It appears that within five years after the establishment of the 
EngUsh college at Douay in 1569, Dr. Allen, its founder, sent nearly 
a hundred missionaries into England. Ling^d, vol. v. p. 375. 



158 1.] Archhishop Grindairs inquiry, 401 

her majesty, with the common consent of the whole 
realm, a certain act made for the retaining of such her 
majesty's subjects in their due obedience, as abusing her 
highness's former goodness and lenity refused to conform 
5 themselves in matters of religion, especially for coming 
to the church, according to the law ; forasmuch as the 
execution of the said statute was thought most needfiil 
for the assurance and safety of her majesty's person, and 
this realm, and the preventing of such mischiefs and in- 
10 conveniencies as otherwise might happen, if every one 
might be suifered to do what him listed ; her majesty 
being very desirous to see all her subjects truly united 
in one consent and uniformity of religion, according to 
the laws of the realm, for the better service of Almighty 
15 God, and quietness of this realm, hath willed us to re- 
quire your lordship, forthwith upon the receipt hereof, to 
make, or cause to be made diligent search and inquiry, as 
well according to your former certificates of recusants, 
as by other the best means, that you can, what persons 
20 there be within your diocese, which do at this present 
refuse to come to the church, and to conform themselves 
according to the said statute. And finding any such, 
you shall do well by conference with some learned and 
other godly disposed persons to admonish them and by 
25 instructions to persuade them to come to the church, 
and to behave themselves, as by the said law is re- 
quired. 

And in case any shall refuse so to do, then to take, 

or cause to be taken vntness in writing both of the wam- 

30 ing so given, and their refusal, under the hands of the 

parson or curate, or other honest persons, which we pray 

you fn every shire within your diocese to prefer unto 

the " Gustos rotulorum," and to the justices of the peace 

at the next sessions ; so as the said persons may be in- 

35 dieted and ordered, as by the same law is appointed. 

VOL. I. D d 



402 The camcirs letter aiaut reauanU. [XCV. 

And generally we pray you, to have a good regard to 
the execution of the rest of the branches of the said act 
touching reconcilers, sayers, and hearers of mass, school- 
masters, and other like matters appertaining to your 
pastoral duty and charge. So as there may be no re- 5 
missness or negligence found in you, as you will answer 
the same before Almighty God and her highness, who 
expecteth a good account at your hands and your 
brethren's in these things. And so heartily praying you, 
that hereof there be no default, and from time to time le 
advertise us of your proceedings, we bid your lordship 
heartily farewell. From Whitehall the 28th of May, 

MDLXXXI. 

Tho. Bromely, cane. R. Leicester. 

W. Burghley. Fr. Knollys. ,5 

E. Lincohi. Jam. Croflbes. 

T. Sussex. Fra. Walsingham. 

F. Bedford. 

In obedience to tliese orders, the archbishop dis- 
patched his letters to his officers of the diocese with* 
the copy of the council's letter, and several articles 
whereupon they should proceed. 

The articks were these: 

I. First, You shall make inquiry, as well according to 
the former certificate heretofore made of recusants, as by «5 
other the best means you can, what persond above the 
age of sixteen years at this present, do refuse to come to 
the church, and to conform themselves according to the 
statute made in the last session of jmrliament. Whra 
any such recusants are by inquisition known and found, 3» 
you shall use conference with them, and every of them. 
And joining to you therein some learned, and other 



158 1.] Archbishop GrindalTs directions of %%yiwry. 408 

godly disposed persons, you shall admonish, instruct, and 
persuade them, to repair to the church, and there to be^ 
have themselves, as by the said statute is required. 

II. Item, If any such person, after warning given, 
5 shall refiise so to do, then you shall take two witnesses 

thereof at the least, and cause the warning and refusal 
to be written ; and the same being written to be sub- 
scribed by the said witnesses, and by the parson, vicar, 
and curates of that ])arish, where such recusant at the 
ro time of the refiisal and warning shall happen to dwelL 

III. Item, You shall send, or cause to be sent the 
same writing, in good and plain form, to the ^ Gustos 
rotulorum,'' and justices of peace of that shire, where the 
persons recusants have their dwelling at the time of the 

15 warning and refusal, at the next sessions ; that the said 
obstinate persons may be there indicted and ordered, as 
by the said statute is appointed. 

IV. Item, You shall also inquire, whether since the 
end of the last parliament, any person or persons vrithin 

«o my diocese have gone about or practised to move, vrith- 
draw, or persuade any her majesty's subjects within your 
diocese or charge from their natural obedience to her 
majesty, or from the religion now by her highness's 
authority established within her majesty's dominions, to 

^5 obey or to be reconciled to the usurped authority of the 
bishop of Rome, or to the Romish religion, or to profess 
any obedience to any pretended authority of the see of 
Rome, or of any other prince, state, or potentate. 

V. Item, You shall inquire whether any persons 
30 within your diocese, after the end of the said last 

sessions of parliament, have been willingly reconciled, 
absolved, or withdrawn as aforesaid, or have promised 
any obedience to any such pretended authority, prince, 
state, or potentate, as is aforesaid. 
35 VI. Item, You shall inquire, whether since the said 
time, any person have said or sung mass within your 

D d S 



404 ArMisIiop WhUgifCs articles [XCVI. 

diocese; and also whether any person hath, since the 
said time, willingly heard mass sung or said. 

VII. Item, You shall inquire, whether any school- 
master of suspected religion, or that is not licensed to 
teach hy the bishop, or ordinary, doth teach in any 5 
public or private place within this diocese. 



XCVI. 

Archiepisc Cant. Anno Clmsti Reg. Anglue 

Jon. WniToiFT I. 15^3* Elfzab. 35. 

The archbishop's letter with articles for good order in 
churches. — Reg. I. Whitgift, fol. 90. b. 

A FTER my harty commendations unto your lordship. 
Where of late, by the advice as well of your lord- 

7%« archbishop's letter] Whitgift was confinned as archbishop of 
Canterbury on the 23 rd of September 1583, and immediately adopted lo 
vigorous measures against the puritans, being induced to do so as mnch 
by the energy of his own character, as by the disorders which had 
grown up during the disgrace of his predecessor. It is worthy of re- 
mark that in this letter the archbishop's precautions seem to have been 
taken exclusively against the puritans ; and this is perfectly in accord- 15 
ance with the views he must have formed from the nature of his great 
controversy with Cartwright, with the general bearing of his chanKter 
on the subject of church government, and with the important place 
that he occupied in the confidence of the queen. It is probable that 
lord Bacon was referring to the change which had gradually been pro- to 
duced in the sentiments of the archbishop by the progress of contro- 
versy, when a few years afterwards he made the following remaiks : 
" The other part which maintaineth the present government of the 
church hath not kept one tenor neither. First, those ceremonies whidi 
were pretended to be corrupt, they maintained to be things indifbrent, H 
and opposed the examples of the good times of the church to that chal- 
lenge winch was made unto them, because they were used in the later 
superstitious times. Then were they also content mildly to acioiow- 
ledge many imperfections in the church, as tares come np amongat tibe 



1 583.] for good order in chur^mi 405 

ship, as certajne others of my brethren the bushops of 
my province, I have set down certayne articles for good 
orders to be observed in the church of England, the true 
copy thereof I have sent herewith unto your lordship ; 

5 wherunto it hath pleased her majestie of her princely 
clemency to yeald her most gracious consent and allow- 
ance, to the intent the said articles may take the better 
effect throughout my province ; I have thought good to 
pray and require your lordship, that with such convenient 

10 speed as you may, you transmitte a true copy of the said 
articles, together with the tenor of thes my letters, to 
every one of my brethren, the bishopes of my province ; 
willing and requiring them, and every of them, vrith such 
care and diligence, as appertayneth, to cause the same 

15 articles effectually to be put in execution in every of their 
several diocesses and jurisdictions. And because I am 
desirous to know the state of the clergy of my province^ 
that I may be the better furnished to goveme the same, 
I have thought good to pray your lordship, to send unto 

ao me a cataloge of the names of aU the ecclesiastical! per- 
sons within your diocess, with signification of their bene- 
fices, promotions, degrees of schole, and of the confonilitie 
of every of them to the lawes and orders, anie way entSp 
blished by her migestie, and to require my brethren to do 

35 the like in their severall diocesses, and to certifie your 
lordship as well thereof, as also how these articles aie 
put in due execution, that I thereupon may receive certi- 
ficate of all from your lordship. And so I conmiend your 
lordship to the grace of God. From my house at Lcam- 

30 beth this 19th of October, MDLXXxm. 

com, which yet, according to the wisdom taught by our Saviour, were 
not with strife to be pulled up, lest it might spoil and supplant the 
good corn, but to grow on together till the harvest. After they grew 
to a more absolute defence and maintenance of aU the orders of the 
church, and stiffly to hold that nothing was to be innovated, partly be* 
35 cause it needed not, partly because it would make a breach iqpon the 
rest." Works, vol. ii, p. 514. 

DdS 



406 ArchbUhap Whit^iffs articles ^c. [XCVL 

First, That every minister in his cure, the first Sonday 
of every month, give warning openly in the church, to 
such as be of his parish, of what state soever they be, to 
repayre to their parish church in such sorte, as by the 
lawes of this realm is appointed, upon pain to be pre- 5 
sented for the same. 

Item, That the ministers and churchwardens of all 
parishes do diligently from tyme to tyme observe, what 
they are that come not to the church accordingly, but 
forbear the same by the space of a month, contrary to 10 
a statute made in the last session of the parliament. 

Item, That the said ministers and churchwardens doe, 
under their handcs and scales, present to the ordinarie, or 
to some such as he shall assigne, what they are that do 
other\\ise, and this to be done every quarter, videlicet, 15 
fourteen days before each session and assises, that the 
ordinary upon such certificat may offer the same to the 
justices at the said assises and sessions, that the parties 
may be there indyted according to the statute. 

Item, If the ordinarie shall perceave that either byso 
slackness of the justices, or waywardnes of Juries, they 
cannott be endyted according to the statute, that then the 
ordinary shall convent the said persons offending, and if 
they shall refuse to conform themselves, to denounce 
them excommunicated, and if they stand in the excom- 15 
munication by the space of forty dayes, to procure the 
writt '* De excommunicato capiendo" against them. 



bMtp 



XCVII. 

Archiepiflc. Cant. Anno Chriiti Reg. Angtt» 

Jou. Whitoift I. 1583. Eluab. 96. 

Archbishop's letter to the bishop of London about the same. 

Ibid. fol. 91. a, 

A FTER my very hartie commendations to your good 
lordship. I have herein sent to your good lordship 
inclosed the copy of such articles as the lords, and others 
of the queues majesties most honorable privy counsayle 
5 have lately recommended to me, wherewith I have 
already made your lordship, and some others of my bre* 
thren acquainted, that were conveniently to be hadd, and 
to be conferred withall, and have thoght good to pzaj 

Archbishop's letter] The preceding lettei^ (No. XCVI.) shews the obi- 

10 jects to which the vigilance of the archbishop and Ids brother prelates 
was directed ; this letter points out the fears and jealousies of tba 
council; the former considering the puritans as the most dangercras as- 
sailants of the church; the latter treating the Romanists as more 
formidable enemies, and the church itself as deserving of much censnrQ. 

15 It appears that the vigorous measures of the archbishop had oocasioiied 
several petitions to be presented to the council, and that he had re- 
ceived letters from them urging him to put a more charitable con- 
struction on the scruples of the non-conformists. Tlie complaints 
connected with pluralities and the incompetency of ministers had been 

ao brought before the house of commons by Mr. Strickland in the year 
157 1, and had been subsequently repeated in that house in defiance of 
the strict prohibition of the queen: the grievances connected with 
penance and excommunication had been brought before tlie notice of 
convocation by archbishop Grindal in the year 1580, with a view to an 

25 application being made to parliament for a law upon the subject : and 
the council doubtless foresaw the hostile attempts which would be 
made upon the church in the parliament of 1584, and were desirous of 
removing some of the most palpable grounds of complaint. Strype, 
Grind, p. 384. Ann. vol. ii. P. 1. p. 93. voLiii. P. i. p. 339. Whitg. 

30 vol. i. p. 349. Collier, vol. ii. p. 585. Neal's Purit. voLi. p. 260. HaDam^ 
vol. i. p. 335. 

D d 4 



408 ArMish(>pW/iitstiJi'8 letter to the Inihop of Limdan. [XCVII. 

your good lordshij), with all convenient spede to sende 
coj)ie8 thereof to all the bisshopes of this province, and to 
require them, in my name, by your severall letters missive, 
to make diligent inquisition of every such of the said 
articles, M'hose nature doth so require, and to certifie me 5 
speedily the trath, and what they shall find in every of 
them, and see the two last articles for commutation of 
penance, and setting up of the table for the fees, being 
rather executive then inquirable, to be carefully put in 
execution m ithin their severall charge ; not doubtinge^ lo 
but that your good lordship alsoe, within your own 
dioces, will inquire, execute, and make certificat to me, 
as it doth api)ertayne, and before this tyme. I hartelie 
committ your lordship to the grace and direction of the 
Ilolie Ghoste. From Lambeth this 12th of December >5 

MDLXXXIII. 

First, A general examination to be taken by the bishop 
in his ])rovince, of all the schoolmasters, as well public as 
private, with order that such as be unsound may be re- 
moved, according to the statute in that behalf provided. » 

Secondly, Inquyrie to be made how the children of the 
recusants be brought up, and how many within their 
several diocesses, as well recusants as others, have their 
children beyond the seas. 

Thirdly, What number of prechers each bisshop hath h 
within his diocese, and how many of them resident. 

Fourthlie, AVliat lyvings there are within their said 
dioceses fit for preachers, and whose gjrfte, and how nowe 
furnished. 

Fiftlio, What ministers have been made by the bishops 30 
in the said province, since the ^thirteenth of her majesties 



A thirteenth of her majesties reigne] Referring to the Stat. 13 EHiz.c. i a, 
which enjoins subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles, together with tlie 
()])l^er^'ance of other rules, previously to ordination. See also the pro* 
roedings of tlic convocation in that year. Wilkins, Cone. vol. iv, p. 263. ^ 



1583.] ArekiepUc. Cani. eommism iuffiraganMO D&wr. 409 

reigne ; and whether they haTe been qualified, as is pre- 
scribed by the statutes. 

Sixthly, That such as are found to be insufficient, and 
of scandalouse life, to be removed, and care hereafter to be 

s usid, that none of the like insufficiency be made. 

Seventhly, That such pluralistes as are preachers, and 
have lyvinges in the infected countreys, may be ordered to 
reside upon the same for a season. 

That his lordship, upon conference with some lemd in 

'<> the civil law, set down, and put in practise some way to 
redress the abuses of excommunication for light causes^ 
according as was moved in the last parliament. 

That his lordship likewise take order for reformation 
of abuses in the commutations of penance. 

>5 Last of all, That the excessive charges in visitations^ 
both of bishops and archdeacons, may be abated, and 
such fees only, as by law and reason are due, to be set 
downe in a table to be hanged up in every cfauieh, 
wherein the severall archdeacon and judicial courts are in 

20 every diocese, to the end that men may know, what thej 
ought to paye, and no greater fees to be either enacted, 
or payed by anie. 



XCVIII. 



Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Chrifti B^. AogMa 

JoH. Whitgift I. i5^5« Elxsab. 26. 

Archiepiscopi Cantuar. commisHo siffraganeo Dowr,^^ 

Reg. J. Whitgifl, fol. 91. b. 

TOHANNES, divina providentia Cant, archiepiscopus, 

^ totius Angliffi primas et metropolitanus, dilecto nobis 

35 in Christo venerabili confratri nostro Richardo Rogers, 

Archiepiscopi Cantuar,'] Strype» Whitg. vol, i. p. 263. Yol.iii. p. 69. 



410 Archi^pise. Cani. commissio sujjhiffaneo Doc^ [XCVIII. 

episcopo suffraganeo sedis Dovor. nostrae Cant, dioeceseos, 
salutem et frateniam in Domino charitatem. Ad cate- 
chisand. et confirmand. ])uero8 quorumcunque subditor. 
utriusque sexus nostrae dioec. et provinciae Cant, ac juris- 
dictionum peculiarium, et immediatarum nostrarum, ets 
ecclesiae nostrae cathcdralis et metroi)oliticae Christi Cant, 
juxta niorein ct ritum modenios ecclesiae Anglicanae, in 
ea parte nie et salubriter edit, et ordinat. necnon sacros 
diaconatus, presbyteratus ordines, quibuscunqiie snbditis 
nostrae dioec. ]irovinciae Cant, et aliis i>er8onis, literas di- lo 
missorias suorum dioecesanorum, et titulos sufiieientes 
exhibentibus, si eos habiles et idoneos tarn moribus et 
setate, quam etiani literatura inveneris, super quibus con- 
scientiam tuani coram altissimo oneramus, nullumque 
aliud legitimum ois in ea parte obsistat impedimentum, 15 
juxta et secundum morem et ritum ecclesiae An^icanae, 
in ea i)arte \ne et salubriter ordinat. et sancitum con- 
ferend. ipsosque et eomm quemlibet, ad hujusmodi sacroe 
ordinos admittend. et promovend. caeteraque omnia et 
singula alia ad officium pontiiicale in praomissis, vel aliquo m 
praemissonim spectan. et pertinen. et quae in ea parte ne- 
ccssaria fiiorint, sen quomodolibet requisita, fratemitati 
vestnr vices nostras com mittimus et plenam in Domino 
tenore praesentium concedimus facultatem. In cujus rei 
testimonium sigillum praesentibus apponi fecimus. Datas 
in manerio nostro de Lambehith undecimo die mensis 
Deccmbris, anno Domini i^idlxxxiii. et nostrae transla- 
tionis anno prime. 



1584-] Arehbiikcp WMtffi/F$ artidm, 4% *11 



XCIX. 



Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Chrisd Reg. Angliae 

JoH. Whitoift 2. 1584. Elizab. 17. 

Articles touching preachers and other orders far the chunA» 

Reg. I. Whitgift, fol. 97. a. 

I. T^HAT the laws late made against the recusants 
be put in more due execution, considering the 



Articles touching prewkera] The publication of these memorable 
articles forms an important epoch in the history of die chmrch. Stroxig 
^ and rigorous in themselves, they appeared to be still more so, on ac- 
count of the contrast they presented to the relaxed state of discipline 
during the suspension of archbishop Grindal; and they met with a 
degree of opposition which a prelate of less commanding ability tliaii 
Whitgift could not have overcome. But they were not by any means 

lo new ; and had the government of the church gone on nnif<»inly dorini^ 
the time of archbishop Grindal, they would probably have created little 
surprise and dissatisfioction, when they were issued by his successor. 
The regulations respecting admission into orders had been generally 
approved before, as, for instance, in the articles adopted by the con- 

15 vocation of the year 1575 (Wilkins, Cone. vol. iv. p. 384) ; and even 
the three articles which aU officiating ministers were required to biiIk- 
scribe. and which formed die principal ground of offence, were some of 
them already enjoined by law to be subscribed in given cases* and had 
all of them been employed by the queen's commissioners as tests of 

30 conformity. (Strype, Whitg. vol. i. p. 116. Parker, vol. ii, p. 350. 
Neal, Purit. vol. i. p. 207.) But in the present instance they were 
used by the archbishop on his own authority, and as a constant formula; 
and though on the interposition of secretary Walsingham the sub- 
scription appears soon afterwards to have been required from those only 

35 who came for orders or institution, and not from the great body of the 
officiating clerg}% the questions still remained, and were discussed with 
much vehemence, whether the archbishop had not exceeded his powers 
in requiring such a subscription without the direct warrant of the 
crown, and whether the church was not endangered by the great 



412 Archbithop Whitgi/f 8 articles touching [XCIX. 

benefitt that hath grown unto the church therby, where 
they have been so executed, and the encouragement 
which they and others do receive by remisse executing 
therof. 

accession that was made to the numbers, the energy, and the con- 5 
sistency of the non-conformists. On the former question he had the 
indefinite nature of his jurisdiction, the known approbation of the 
queen, the strong precedent of the Advertisements^ and above all the 
force of his own reputation to support him; on the other he rested 
securely on that undefined sense of danger which prevailed in the 10 
kingdom generally, and which in every department both of church and 
state called for the exercise of a vigorous and watchful government. 
There was still another point on which the puritans complained of the 
subscription thus required from them. The statute 13 £3iz. c. ii. 
which ratified the thirty-nine articles, enacted (as the puritans main- '5 
tained) that those articles, but those only, should be subscribed, which 
concern the confession of the true Christian faith and the doctrine id 
the sacraments ; and it is evident from the parUamentary history of the 
year 1575 (see D'Ewes Journal) that it was intended to exclude the 
articles connected with the authority and discipline of the church. It 20 
had however gradually become the practice to require an unreserved 
subscription, and the practice was now established by the orders oi the 
archbishop ; for no such distinction respecting the articles had been 
allowed in the canons of 157 1, and it was the queen's detenninatioD in 
this as in all other questions affecting the churchy to rest on her own H 
supremacy instead of the authority of parliament. But it is also worthy 
of remark, that lord Coke, who was living and a lawyer at the time, 
speaks of the statute 13 Eliz. c. 12. with reference to subscription, and 
yet takes no notice of the alleged limitation in it ; and that he men- 
tions the two subscriptions, the one required by the statute and the 29 
one required by the canons, as if they were coordinate and coexten- 
sive. (Instit. Part iv. p. 323.) The great difference which had 
gradually arisen in the external condition of the church within the last 
twenty years, may be clearly seen on comparing the artidea enjoined 
for subscription by archbishop Whitgift with the corresponding sub- 35 
scription required in the Advertisements of the year 1564. (No. LXV.) 
The tliree articles, as is well known, were afterwards confirmed by 
king James, and introduced into the canons of the year 1603. Strype. 
Whitg. vol. i. p. 248. Ann. vol. iii. P. i. p. 319. Collier, vol. ii. 
p. 584. Neal, Purit. vol. i. p. 260. Comp. Wood's Ann. anno 1589. 40 
Hallam, Const. Hist. vol. i. p. 206. Lamb's Articles, p. 37. 



^5^4-] preachers and other orders of the church. 41S 

II. That all preaching, reading, catechisme, and other 
such like exercises in private places and families, where- 
unto others do resorte, being not of the same family, be 
utterly inhibited, seing the same was never permitted as 

5 lawful, under any Christian magistrate, but is a mani- 
fest sign of schisme, and a cause of contention in the 
church. 

III. That none be permitted to preach, read, or cate- 
chise in the church or elsewhere, unless he do, four times 

'o in the year at the least, say service, and minister the 
sacraments, according to the book of common prayer. 

IV. That all preachers, and others in ecclesiastical or- 
ders, do at all times wear, and use such kynde of apparel, 
as is prescribed unto them by the book of advertisements, 

»5 and her majesty's injunctions " anno prime." 

V. That none be permitted to preach, or interpret 
the scriptures, unless he be a priest, or deacon at the 
least, admitted therunto according to the laws of this 
realme. 

20 VI. That none be permitted to preach, readei, cate- 
chise, minister the sacraments, or to execute any other 
ecclesiasticall function, by what authority soever he be 
admitted therunto, unless he consent and subscribe to 
these articles following, before the ordinary of the diocese, 

25 wherin he preacheth, readeth, catechiseth, or ministreth 
the sacraments, videlicet : 

[I.] That her majestie, under God, hath and ought to 
have the soveraigntie and rule over all manner of persons 
born within her realmes, dominions, and countries, of 

30 what estate, either ecclesiastical, or temporal soever they 
be; and that no foreign power, prelate, state, or po- 
tentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction, power, 
superioritie, preeminence, or authoritie ecclesiastical or 
spiritual, within her majesties said realmes, dominions, 

35 and countries. 

[II.] That the book of dommon prayer, and of order- 



414 Archbishop Whitffi/fs ariides Umdiing [XGIX. 

ing bushops, prestes, and deacons, conteyneth nothing in 
it contrary to the word of God, and that the same may 
lawfully be used, and that he himself will use the forme 
of the said book prescribed in public prayer, and admin- 
istration of the sacraments, and none other. 5 

[III.] That he alloweth the book of articles of religion, 
agreed upon by the archbushops and bushops of both 
provinces, and the whole clergy in the convocation holden 
at London in the yere of our Lord God h.d.lxii. and set 
forth by her majesties authority, and that he believeth all 10 
the articles therin conteyned to be agreable to the 
word of God, 

VII. That from henceforth, none be admitted to any 
orders ecclesiastical, unless ho do then presentlie shew to 
the bishop a trew presentation of himself to a benefice 15 
then void within the diocese or jurisdiction of the said 
bishop, or unless he shew unto the same bushop a trew 
certificate, where j)resently he may be placed to serve 
some cure within the same diocese, or jurisdiction, or 
unless he be placed in some cathedral or collegiate church, „ 
or colledge in Cambridge or Oxford, or unless the said 
bushop shall then forthwith place him in some vacant be- 
nefice or cure. 

VIII. And that no busshop henceforth do admitt any 
into orders, but such as shal be of his own diocese, unless 55 
he be of one of the univei-sities, or bring his lettres 
dimissories from the busshop of the diocesse, and be of age 
fill twenty-four years, and a graduate of the university, or 
at the least able in the Latin tongue to yealde an accompte 
of his faith, according to the articles of religion agreed |b 
upon in convocation, and that in such sorte, as that he 
can note the sentences of scripture, wherupon the trath 
of the said articles is grounded, and bring a sufficient tes-* 
timonial with him of his honest life and conversation, 
either under the seal of some colledge in the universities, ^ 
where he hath remayned, or from some justice of the 



^5^3'] preachers and other orders of the church. 416 

peace, with other honest men of that parish, where he 
hath made his abode for three yeares before; and that 
the bushop, which shall admitt any into orders, being not 
in this manner qualified, be by the archbishop, with the 

5 assistance of some one other bishop, suspended from admits 
ting any into orders for the space of two yeares. 

IX. And that no bushop institute any into a benefice, 
but such as be of the habilitie before prescribed ; and if 
the arches by double quarrell or otherwise proceade 

lo against the said busshop, for refusal of such as be not of 
that habilitie, that the archbusshop of Cant, either by his 
own authoritie, or by meanes procured from her majestie, 
may stay such proces, that the endeavor of the byshop 
may take place. 

15 X. Tliat one kinde of translation of the Bible be only 
used in public service, as well in churches as chappells, 
and that to be the same which is now authorized by the 
consent of the bushops. 

XI. That from henceforth ther be no commutation of 

^o penance, but in rare respectes, and upon great consi- 
deration, and when it shall appear to the busshop himself, 
that that shall be the best way for wynning and reforming 
of the offendor, and that the penalty be employed either 
to the relief of the poor of that parish, or to other godly 

25 uses, and the same well witnessed and made manifest to 
the congregation ; and yet if the fault be notorious, that 
the offendor make some satisfaction either in his own 
person \vith declarations of his repentance openlie in the 
church, or else that the minister of the church openlie in 

30 the pulpitt signifie to his people his submission and decla- 
ration of his repentance done before the ordinarie, and 
also in token of his repentance what portion of mony he 
hath given to be employed to the uses above named. 
As persons of honest, worshipfull, and honorable call- 

35 ing may necessarilie and reasonablie have occasions some- 
times to solemnize marriage by licence for the banns 



416 ArcMdfhap WAitpi/f 8 letter iauchinff preaden ^c. [XGIX. 

asking or for once or twice wthout any great harm ; so 
for avoiding generallie of inconveniences noted in this 
behalf, yt is thought expediente, that no dispensations 
be graunted for marriage without bannes, but under 
sufficient and large bondes, with these conditions fol-5 
lowing : 

First, That there shall not afterwards appear any law- 
full let or impediment by reason of any precontract, con- 
sanguinitic, afiinitie, or any other lawful! meanes what- 
soever. 10 

Secondly, That ther be not at that presente tyme of 
grauntinge such dispensation any suite, pleinte, querele, 
or demand moved or depending before any judge eccle- 
siastical or temporal for and concerning any such lawful 
impediment betwene such the parties. And 15 

Thirdly, They proceed not to the solemnization of the 
marriage without the consent of parents or governors. 

Lastly, That the marriage be openly solemnized in the 
church. The copy of which bond is to be set down and 
given in charge for every busshop in his diocese to follow ; » 
provided that whosoever ofTendeth against this order, be 
suspended ab executione officii for one half yeare. 



1584O The hiahop^s answer to a boot o/artielet. 417 



C. 

Archiepisc. Caiit. Anno Christi Re^. Anglias 

JoH. Whitoift 2. 1584. Elizab. 27. 

A writiiig of the bishops in answer to the book of articles 
offered the last sessions of parliament^ anno regin. 
XXVII. for ecclesiastical causes^ concerning ministers, 
eo'conimunication^ dispensations^ Sfc. — Strype's Annals» 
vol. iii. App. p. 81. 

I. Concerning ministers. 

The first article. 

nnHAT it may be enacted, that none be admitted to be 
minister of the word and sacraments, but in a be- 
5 nefice having cure of souls, then vacant in the diocese of 
such a bishop as is to admit him. 

A writing of the bishops] This paper is so described on the authority 
of Strype, (Ann. vol. iii. P. i. p. 329,) who speaks of it thus : " I meet 
with another answer at good length to those sixteen petitions, given 

10 in by the bishops in general ; and seem to have been done at their con- 
vocation ; which having not as yet seen the light, I can not omit to in- 
sert this MS., being an important matter of the history of our church 
at that time, when there was such a joint endeavour of many, eager 
for another discipline to be brought in, and the former with the public 

15 prayers and offices to be laid aside." But it is evident on a compa- 
rison of this paper with the sixteen petitions drawn up by the house of 
commons in the session of 1584-5, and presented by them to the house 
of lords, that the statement of Strype is incorrect. The sixteen peti- 
tions recommend many matters, such as the suspension of ministers 

20 who are not of ability according to the statute, the prohibition of any 
oath or subscription on ordination or institution except according to 
statute, the allowing of omissions or changes of some portions or rites 
in the Book of Common Prayer, the restoring of certain ministers sus- 
pended for non- subscription, the forbearing of examinations ex officio 

25 mero, and the permitting of exercises and conferences among the min- 
isters of each archdeaconry; these matters were among the topics of 
greatest interest and most frequent discussion at the time, but are alto- 

VOL. I. E e 



418 Tlte hi^kopi amxcer to the hook of [C. 

A7iswer to the first article. 

This cannot possibly be performed without altering the 
whole state of the church of England. First because 
there must be curates, and that of necessity. Secondly, 
Because there are other ecclesiastical livings, which re-s 
quire ministers of the word and sacraments, as well as 
benefices with cure ; as deaneries, prebends, masterships, 
and fellowships in the universities, and petty canons in 
cathedral churches. 

The article is grounded upon a false principle of T. C. w 
(Thomas Cartwright) against ministers having no pas- 
toral cure. Which neither he, nor any man else is able 
to maintain either by the word of God, or ancient au- 
thority. For by " Ministerium vagum," the old councils 
and ca,nons did always understand such as were ordained 15 

gether unnoticed in the paper before us. It is more probable then that 
the articles propounded in the paper were drawn up at a sabseqnent 
period, and in a form less likely to be rejected, the general wentimenta 
of the bishops having already been ascertained from the answers to the 
sixteen petitions which had been given by the two archbishops, and by ^ 
bishop Cooper. (Strype, Ann. vol. iii. P. i. p. 329.) They certainly 
adopt more moderate views of change than the petitions of the com- 
mons, not merely in omitting the matters noticed above, but also in ex- 
pressing in a less objectionable manner the suggestions that are com- 
mon to both documents. The petitions, for instance, pray that *' no >5 
bishop shall ordain any minister of the word and sacraments but with 
assistance of six other ministers at the least ;" the articles before us 
are contented to recommend that " the bishop shall not make any min- 
ister but such as shall be by the dean and chapter, or the more part of 
them, or six learned preachers of the diocese then present, allowed for 50 
a man meet and sufficient, by subscription of their hands to some writ- 
ing, declaring their assent in allowing of him." It would appear then 
that these articles were presented to the bishops by some party less ad- 
verse, than the commons were, to the existing condition of the churdi* 
and after the more objectionable propositions of the commons had been » 
withdrawn or modified. Comp. Strype, Whitg. vol. i. p. 347. ToLiiL 
pp. I lb. 124. Ann. vol. iii. P. 2. p. 302. Collier, vol.ii. p. 593. Neal's 
Purit vol. i. p. 293. Hallam, vol. i. p. 226. 



'5^4-] articles presented to parliament, 419 

" Sine patrimonio aut tltulo :" that is, not having any 
stay of living. As it is manifest in the council of 
Chalcedon. 

Such as have great cures shall be overburdened with 
5 saying of service, preaching, ministering of sacraments, all 
themselves. For they shall be destitute of a curate to 
help them to say service, to visit the sick, to administer 
the sacraments, to catechise, etc. by this means fellow- 
ships in colleges, which by their statutes must be in 
lo orders, are overthrown. 

The second article. 

That before the admission of such minister, the bishop 
give public notice by writing under his seal, to be fixed 
on the church door, that is destitute of a pastor, upon 

»5 some Sunday or holy-day in the time of divine service, 
signifying the name of the person presented to that 
church, or there to be admitted; with intimation that 
such as within twenty-six days after, will object against 
the admission, shall appear at a place certain before him, 

2o and allege such matter, as shall only concern his conver- 
sation of life, and thereby his insuflSciency for that place. 

The third article. 

That the bishop shall not proceed to the admission of 
any to be minister of the word and sacraments, before 

25 due certificate made in authentic form, and public place, 
by him to be assigned, that the process of notice and in- 
timation was executed in form aforesaid ; nor before the 
expiration of the said twenty-six days, nor without call- 
ing for and hearing of such, as upon return of the said 

30 process, shall and will object, as aforesaid. 

Th^ answer to the second and third articles. 

This is unnecessary and in vain, unless he that is to be 
admitted, had been dwelling in that parish before. Which 

£ e 2 



4S0 The bishops' amwer to the hook of [C. 

Avill happen very seldom. The writing and sending to 
the benefice void, and the return thereof in authentic 
form, will be very chargeable to the minister ; especially 
where the place is far from the bishop's mansion house. 
It also protracteth time, and will administer occasion of ^ 
quarrelling. 

The charges also and delay will be increased, if the 
party to be admitted, do stand upon the purgation of the 
objections laid against him. 

This testimony required of the parishioners, lacking ^^ 
their pastors, is an introduction to bring the patronage to 
the people, and to set a fire among them, for testifying or 
not testifying; and that many times of a person they 
know not. 

The objecting of the people will fietll out many times to '5 
be mere malice, whereby immortal hatred will rise among 
them. 

The person indeed had need be a very ill man, that a 
number of the parish will come a long journey to the or- 
dinary, on their own costs, to object against him that is *^ 
to be admitted. 

What, if the parish will be negligent and will not re- 
turn ? shall they lack a pastor still ? the patron^ if he be 
mighty, may enter, lett the return, or procure such as he 
shall like of. And who and how many of the parish *5 
shall return ? 

The fourth article. 

It is here to be provided, that where in certain col- 
leges, and cathedral and collegiate churches the founda- 
tion or statutes require such as are there placed, to be 3 
ministers ; it shall be lawful for such as are known to 
profess the study of divinity, or otherwise be lawfully dis- 
pensed withal, to retain, as before this act they might, 
any fellowship or prebend within the said coUegefi^ not- 
withstanding they be no ministers. 



1584O articles presented to parliament. 4/2\ 

The afiswer to the fourth article. 

I. This utterly overtbrowetb the foundation and sta- 
tutes of almost all the colleges in Cambridge and Ox- 
ford, being founded principally for the study of divinity, 

5 and increase of the number of learned preachers and 
ministers. And therefore, not only the master, provost, 
warden, president, etc. by the said foundation and statutes 
are bounden to be ministers, but divers others also of 
such societies are likewise bounden to enter into the 
10 ministry by a certain time, or else to yield their places to 
others. 

II. It will deprive the church of England of the wor- 
thiest, best learned, and wisest ministers and preachers. 
For there is no comparison between such ministers and 

15 preachers, as the universities continually yield, in respect 
of such foundations and statutes, and others, being no 
university men, or not entering into the ministry, while 
they remained there ; as at this day it is notorious. For 
although there are divers that can preach, etc. yet they 

2 have no substance of learning in them, neither i re they 
able to stand M-ith the adversary, either in pulpit or dis- 
putation : a thing as well required in a minister as exhor- 
tation is. 

III. If this device take place, where the universities 
IS yield now great number of preachers and ministers, they 

would not then yield one for twenty. And so the num- 
ber of preachers, which now are thought to be very few, 
would then be much less ; and at length the utter decay 
of the study of divinity, and the very next way to bring 
30 in popery and ignorance again. 

IV. It overthrows the degrees of the university, which 
are taken in divinity; as the bachelorship and doctorship. 
For even sithence the first foundation of them both, it 
hath been perpetually used, and it is by statute required, 

35 that none should take any of these degrees, but such as 

E e 3 



422 The iishcp*8 amtcer to the hoot af [C. 

are in the ministry. And indeed it is both inconvenient 
and absurd that it should be otherwise. 

V. At this day, there are in the university of Cam- 
bridge an hundred preachers at the least, very worthy 
men, and not many less in the university of Oxford : and s 
the number daily increaaeth in both, to the great benefit 
of the church. But if this might take place, within these 
seven years there would not be five ministers in either of 
them. 

VI. It would cause men all their lifetime to remain in " 
the universities ; so that there should be no succession. 

VII. It also overthroweth the foundation and statutes 
of all cathedral and collegiate churches; and taketh 
away the chief and principal reward for learned preachers: 
for the best livings for worthy men are in such churches, n 

VIII. It taketh away the wisest, best learned, and 
gravest divines, such as do and are most able to withstand 
not only papists, but other sectaries also. 

IX. Every one to keep these places would openly pro- 
fess the study of divinity, and secretly study the one law ** 
or the other, or physic, or some trifling study all his life 
long. 

X. There will be no care of profiting when there is no 
trial thereof, which is most special by open preaching: 
which were absurd to be done by no ministers. «5 

XI. Any which hath been a student, may under pre- 
tence of studjdng divinity, without any trial obtain 
deaneries, provostships, prebends, etc. and being a layman, 
may live idly on the spoil of the church all his lifid, ex- 
cept he taught a benefice. ^ 

XII. There shall want suflficient trial of the abilities 
of preaching of such as are to be bishops, except they be 
chosen from some benefice : which breedeth small expe- 
rience for governance. 

XIII. It would greatly diminish the number of preachers ^ 
and sennons; which the universities, colleges, and 



1584.] ariides presented to parKameni. 4S9 

thedral churches do yield both at home and abroad in 
every country; in the respect that those, which now have 
the livings, are bound to be ministers. 

XIV. It taketh away daily service used in these 
5 churches (which were impiety) unless it might be said or- 

sung by such as are now ministers : which is absurd. 

XV. To conclude, it will breed a beggarly, unlearned, 
and contemptible clergy and ministry. It is the very 
way to overthrow all colleges, cathedral churches, and 

10 places of learning. It will extinguish the study of divi- 
nity, dimmish the number of preachers, and breed a 
great confusion and alteration in the church and com- 
monwealth. And it is a piece of T. C. his platform. 

XVI. By this the reward of divinity will be taken 
15 away, and the divine thrust to a benefice of xl/. This is 

covertly to shove at the gospel, to place the lawyers and 
others as they please. 

XVII. Note, That hereby they woidd have dispensa- 
tions to take place against the statutes of colleges and 

3o cathedral churches. 

The Jijih article. 

That none be made minister, but upon some Sunday- 
publicly in the cathedral church of the diocese, where 
the minister is admitted. 

35 The answer. 

That he be made public, it is not amiss; but to ob- 
serve the precise place of the cathedral churoh, it wiU be 
inconvenient ; because divers bishops dwell fsa from their 

cathedral churches. 
(9 The eixih artide. 

That the bishop make no minister but such as be of 

his own diocese, and have there continued by the space 

of one whole year ; except such only as come from the 

universities, and bring testimonials of their meetness 

35 under the university seal. 

E e 4 



424 The bishapi answer to the boot of [C. 

The seventh article. 

That such as be of the bishop's own diocese, shall 
bring with them such a testimonial as is limited in the 
statute of anno xiii. Elizab. 

The miswer. s 

I. These are very expedient and necessary, and even 
so provided for by the law. 

II. It were more meet also, that these things were 
observed, when patrons present to a benefice : and that 
as the testimonials do witness their conversation, so the ^^ 
bishop should without any impeachment of ** Quare im- 
pedit,** etc. be judge of their ability in respect of the 
cure which they desire. 

The eighth article. 

That after the receipt of the said testimonial, the ^i 
bishop shall not proceed to the making of this person 
minister, which bringeth that testimonial, before he shall 
declare before the dean and chapter of the cathedral 
church, that he well knoweth the persons, by whom the 
testimonial is made, to be such as is by the said statute ^^ 
expressed. 

The answer. 

This is unnecessary and altogether needless, neither 
can it be performed. 

The ninth article. '$ 

That he shall not make any minister but such as shall 
be by the dean and chapter, or the more part of them, 
or six learned preachers of the diocese then present, 
allowed for a man meet and sufficient, by subscription 
of their hands to some wTiting, declaring their aasent, ^ 
in allowing of him. 



ij84-] arUdes pre9$ia$d to p^rUammU. 4tt 

The answer. 

I. It will breed ^great trouble, and not work that 
effect which is looked for ; neither can it by all in place 
be performed. 
5 II. It would also be very chargeable, upon the ab- 
sence of the most of the chapter, if the party should 
procure the hands of six preachers, dwelling in dis- 
persed places. 

The tenth article. 

lo That none shall have a benefice with cure, being of 
the value of xkL yearly in the queen's books, except 
he be a master of arts, or a preacher allowed, notwith- 
standing that he be made a minister before of some 
mean cure. 

15 The answer. 

It is to be liked of ; so that diligent heed be taken 
that none be admitted preachers, but such as be worthy. 

II. Concerning escammimicaHon. 

The first article. 

3o Excommunication is at this time the pain of conta-* 
macy, and hath place where a man appeareth not upon 
a process, or satisfieth not some order prescribed by the 
judge, as not taking some oath, or not paying legadea^ 
tithes, etc. 

35 The second article. 

The ofibnces that grow by the practice hereof in this 
manner are great. One, that being the highest oensoie 
left by the church of God, it is profiemed by npplfhkg it 
to temporal and ciyil oaiues. Another, that it is ^ne- 



426 The hishcps' answer to tie boot ^ [C. 

cuted by men that have no calling in the church, as 
chancellors, officials, etc. 

Again, forasmuch as the church may not be left with- 
out this censure of excommunication, it is to be pro- 
vided, that for enormous crimes, as adultery, and such s 
other, the same be executed either by the bishops them- 
selves, with the assistance of grave persons, or else by 
other persons of calling in the church, with the like 
assistance, and not by chancellors and ofiScials^ as hath 
been used. lo 

The answer. 

Excommunication hath been used by the ecclesiaflticai 
judge, ever sithence there hath been either discipline in 
the church, or jurisdiction in the ecclesiastical magistrate, 
and is the only punishment thereof: for the ancient law- 15 
makers, thinking that blood and bodily pains ought to be 
far from ecclesiastical magistrates, have given them this 
mild spiritual sword, to divide that person from the 
ecclesiastical body, that refuseth to do his ecclesiastical 
duties, and to obey the ecclesiastical judge ; not excom- *® 
municating every man for twopenny causes, as is sur- 
mised (though indeed there be as much in ud. as in cc/.) 
but in excommunicating them for not obeying the order, 
decree, and sentence of the judge, according to her ma- 
jesty's ecclesiastical laws. Even as in a temporal cause *5 
of \\d. the party is outlawed, and consequently his fruits 
and goods of his lands are at the prince's pleasure, if he 
appear not, or obey not ; and yet it is not to be said, 
that a man is outlawed for \\d. but for not obeying the 
law process and judge, in a twopenny matter. For the ^ 
smaller the matter is, the greater is the fietult of con- 
tumacy and disobedience, saith the law. 

Excommunication for process, order not obeyed, taking 
some oath, etc. is not for civil causes : but these causes 



1584.] orHehi presented to parKameni. 4C7 

are ecclesiastical; and what can be more against the 
church, than when men will not be ordered by it nor 
obey it ? In God's law such as would not be ordered by 
their judge, or high priest, were stoned. 
6 There is no law nor function in the world void of 
exception, and imperfection. And to have it void thereof 
*• Est optandum magis, quam spenmdum," as in Plato's 
commonwealth. 

If excommunication be either taken away or changed, 
10 the whole course of the common law of the realm con- 
cerning that matter, and touching the writ ** De excom- 
mimicato capiendo," must be changed. Wherein many 
things, not yet thought on, may happen, and instead 
thereof some convenient temporal penalty must be de- 
is vised. Which how unliking and unpleasable it will be^ 
and how full of difficulties, the wise can consider. 

And if excommunication be thought fittest to con- 
tinue (for that there will be as many inconveniencies, or 
more in time found in other things, as in that) and that 
^o for the better credit of the proceeding therein, the bishop 
be arched to sit in consistory, his whole life will be spent 
in his jurisdiction, and in study of law, that he might be 
able to discern whether the process be according to law, 
before he inflicts the censure; which will be as great 
n decay of preaching, as it hath been in foretime. For 
the jurisdiction alone requireth ** totum et integrum 
hominem," 

Touching the ej^ecutian by men of no catting in the 

country. 

^^ The jurisdiction in the beginning was jointly in the 
bishop, dean, and chapter. Which bred so many 
opinions, such impeachments and confusions in proceed- 
ing, that by the general custom of the world, generally 
the jurisdiction was thought convenient to be exercised 



4S8 Tie bishops' answer to the took of [G. 

by the bishop alone; which growing greats as the church 
and ecclesiastical causes increased, and consequently call- 
ing the bishop from his function, the law and constitu- 
tions ordered that the official or vicar general of a bishop 
or archdeacon, should have the same consistoiy or juris- 5 
diction, that the archdeacon or bishop had, and the same 
authority to excommunicate. Which by the statutes of 
this realm is also allowed to doctors of the law. For 
that in later times, divines have wholly employed them- 
selves to divinity, and not to the proceedings and study '<> 
of the law : whereunto in foretimes the cleigy were more 
addicted than to divinity, in respect of the gain and 
offices exercised under bishops, archdeacons, and other 
ecclesiastical callings, which drew them wholly fix)m 
divinity. »s 

This excommunication by law was never used, nor 
could be used as a punishment of any crime, saving of 
notorious heresy, usury, simony, piracy, conspiracy against 
the person of the prince, of his state, dignity, or crown, 
perturbers of the common peace and quietness of the 20 
church or realm, wilful murderers, sacrilegers, perjurers, 
and incorrigible and notorious committers of incest and 
adulter}^ false witness, and suborners thereof, violent 
layers of hands upon ecclesiastical persons, and such 
other great and horrible crimes, which were called " sen- 15 
tentiiB canonum." Wherein besides the particular pe- 
nances, that the bishops and their officers did impose, it 
was for more terror provided by ancient canons, that 
there should be a general open denunciation of this 
excommunication in every cathedral church and parish 3^ 
church twice in the year. 

For other light faults there was no excommunication 
permitted or used as a punishment, other than for mani- 
fest and wilful contumacy or disobedience in not appear- 
ing, when persons were called and summoned for a cause ss 



1584-] artkhs pre9$titMl to jparttammt. 4C0 

eocleeiastical, or when any sentence or decree of the 
bishop or his officer, being deliberately made» was wilt- 
fully disobeyed and not performed. 

Such wilful contumacy and disobedience to authority 

5 is in the law accounted so great, that it is called a oon- 
tempt of that '' quod est in jure extremum f that is to 
say, if the judge cannot haye appearance of the parties^ 
or execution of his judgments, here he is at the wall, 
and can go no further. 

10 Of very ancient time this was the manner of proceed- 
ing in this realm, and the only mean of reducing obsti- 
nate persons to the obedience of the law« 

It may appear by the ancienter statute or act of par- 
liament in the 9th year of Edward 11. that it was the 

'5 old custom and usage of the realm, long before that 
time. The words are these : ^ Si aliqui propter soam 
contumaciam manifestam excommunicentur ; ac post 
40. dies, dies pro eorum captione scribatur, et pra^ 
tendunt se privilegiatos ; et sic denegatur breye regium 

«o pro captione corporum ? Besponsio regis : Nunquam fdit 
negatum, nee negabitur in future.^ 

It is to be considered, whether this manifest con- 
tumacy, and wilful disobedience to the magistrate and 
authority be not as well punishable, as when the original 

H cause or matter is weighty, the difference whereof dotb 
nothing alter the nature of the disobedience. 

In this our realm, of very ancient time^ it hath been 
observed from time to timei, that there was never altenir 
tion made of any law ecclesiastical, although it had ap^ 

30 pearance to ben^t the state of the clergy ; but that it 
turned ever to some notable prejudice. 

III. Concerning commutaHon of penance. 

That there be no commutation of penance for dn, but 
by the order and appointment of the bishop, with the 



430 The bishopi ansieer to the look of [C. 

assent of the dean and chapter, or the most part of them, 
or with tlie assent of six preachers of that diocese. 

Tlie answer. 

I. The bishop is sufficient for this matter. II, It 
were good to inhibit justices of peace, to commute, but 5 
to permit them only to punish corporally. And yet not- 
withstanding, the parties offending not to be received 
into the church, till they have done such penance, 
whereby the congregation may be satisfied. 

IV. Concerning dispensatiofis. •<> 

Tlie first article. 

The faculties which did the greatest hurt in the 
church of God, were three ; viz. dispensation •* de non 
promovendo,** dispensation for pluralities of benefices^ 
and dispensation for non-residence. 'S 

T/ie second artide. 

These two last named faculties have bred the disorders 
of making vague ministers, whereof have ensued two great 
incommodities : one, and the chiefest of all, that the peo- 
ple is not taught : the other, that the ministers placed m 
in benefices, where the pastor is absent, and having for 
the most part small alloM^ance, do post from place to 
place for their better preferment, and resting no where, 
respect neither their life, nor increase in knowledge. For 
men be careful for their conversation, where they are to 15 
have continuance. And small account can be taken how 
he profiteth, that abideth no where long. 

The answer. 

The faculty " de non residendo," is so rare, as by the 
l)resent archbishoj) there was never any granted. And 30 



1584.] articles presented to parliament 481 

by the last archbishop never any yielded unto, but by 
special requests and warrant from my lords of her ma- 
jesty's council ; and that to men qualified in her majesty's 
service, or otherwise greatly employed in the common- 

5 wealth. And therefore it needeth no such provision by 
law. 

The faculty of non-residence is also so rare, and granted 
in such respects, as sithence the time of this archbishop 
there hath not been above one granted, and that to a 

10 man of 80 years old ; with whom the law itself dispenseth. 

Beside, that the statute of the realm provideth so 

sharp a penalty for non-residence, by the forfeiture of yd, 

a month, to be recovered in the exchequer, as no man 

careth to sue for the faculty, and if they do, it profiteth 

15 nothing. For that the statute inflicteth the punishment, 
all faculties and dispensation notwithstanding, and a more 
severe punishment cannot well be devised. 

Touching the faculty of pluralities, the ground thereof 
is this. Men of excellent gifts, and extraordinary virtue, 

10 oftentimes have no livings or very small living. And 
when they cannot attain so great as their quality de- 
serveth, the policy of the church hath thought fit to grant 
to such an one two livings, as an extraordinary reward 
for extraordinary virtue. For if all men could be made 

25 fit for all livings, or all livings for all manner of men, 
there should have needed no dispensation of pluralities ; 
but forasmuch as that cannot be, it is lawful in such ease 
of necessity, and for such extraordinary causes, to recede 
from the strait and common course of the law. And so 

30 hath it been used in all ages. Neither can it be better 
policed, nor more restrained, than of late it hath been in 
respect both of distance of places, and the value of their 
parsonage, with great caution both for their hospitality 
and preachings. Besides that the laws being positive 

35 that forbid plurality, the difference in reason is very small 
between the little benefices not far distant, and one great 



; 



432 Tie bishopi ansicer to the book of [C. 

benefice. And therefore no strange thing, if by like posi- 
tive law there be admitted by mitigation a dispensation 
of the rigor of law. 

Moreover, the number of benefices in Elngland being 
about 1 8^000, and the universities not able to furnish the s 
third part of them with sufficient men, it is better, that 
one worthy man have two benefices, than to be unfur- 
nished of living, or be obscurely placed in a small parish 
or poor living ; or the same benefices committed to two 
unlearned men. lo 

The third article. 

That no chaplain have two cures, if both amount 
above 40/. in the queen's books or be 20 miles distant. 

The fourth article. 

That none enabled to have two cures, shall eqjoy the 15 
same, unless they be under the value aforesaid, and 
within 20 miles distant ; and be resident upon one of 
them. 

The answer to the third and fourth articles. 

I. The distance of miles is not to be misliked, but the m 
limiting of the value is unreasonable, and tendeth only to 
the impoverishing of the ministry, being a state as worthy 
of living in many respects, as others of other callings 
whatsoever in respect of their calling. 

II. The best gifts deserve the best rewards. And«5 
therefore it were better to make a limitation, what de- 
grees of schools shall only be enabled for the best livings. 

III. Dignities, prebends, and places in colleges (as be- 
fore) are required by dispensation for laymen. Here the 
divine is set at 40/. If a man would deal covertly to 50 
pull away religion, how could it do better ? 



1584O arHcha pr^Mewkd to parKammU. 4SS 

The ^/ih artide. 

That no dean of cathedral church, prebendary, or other 
having dignity, shall have more than one benefice with 
cure, besides his dignity. 

^ The eupth article. 

That no one have mo dignities or prebaids than two. 

The answer to the fifth and eurth a/rtides. 

I. It is very unreasonable, and tendeth to the same end 
with the third and fourth articles, and will discoorigige 

10 men from the ministry, and make a beggarly clargy, iar 
unapt to give hospitality, or to do many other things 
required of them, and looked for at their hands. 

II. It is also very inconvenient, for most of these dig- 
nities are decayed within these last fifty years very much. 

15 Greater impositions for the service of the realm are laid 
upon them. Every thing to be required at double or 
treble prices, in respect of that it was then at. • . . And 
yet as great or greater hospitality looked for. 

The seventh artick. 

20 That they, which may have chaplains, shall advance no 
more than their number, till the advanced dieth, or 
otherwise one of two benefices become void. 

I%e answer. 

I. This is not to be misliked, unless the party be 
H otherwise qualified than by the chaplainship. 

II. And yet inconvenience may arise of it. For if a 
chaplain doth not behave himself as appertaineth, no 
reason he should be retained in servioe^ and it were hard 
not to allow another in such a case. 

VOL. I. F f 



434 The bishcpa" arutoer to the hoot of [C. 

The eighth article. 
That none shall be chaplain, enabled to two benefices, 
except he be master of arts, or allowed by the oidinaiy 
as sufficient. 

The answer. 5 

It is very convenient. 

The ninth article. 

That none shall be non-resident, but such as be con- 
tinually attendant in the houses of such as they are 
chaplains unto, w 

T/ie answer. 

I. To be attendant the greater part of the year were 
sufficient. For the other part of the year they may be 
at their cure. And besides some have chaplains, which is 
attend by course. Which is very convenient* 

II. This is very prejudicial for grave men required for 
government in the universities. Which may veiy well 
discharge both duties. 

III. This overthroweth residence in cathedral churches, » 
colleges, and deaneries. So that they cannot be attendant 
there, except they will leave their benefice, though it be 
but one. 

The tenth article. 

That they shall preach in person yearly, two sermons, 
and four sermons besides *^ per se vel per alium." 95 



The answer. 

I requisite, that they should preaeh 



mo sermons even in their own persons. 



1584-] (MriMeB premiM to pofUomi^ 4AS 

The eievenih attide. 

Lastly, To consider, whether it were not meet to abate 
the numbers of the chaplains of the archbishops, and 
others under thftt degree, that may by the statute keep 
5 more than one chaplain. 

The answer* 

It is not meet. For those of the deigy that have 
chaplains allowed, the statute sets down a good con- 
sideration. And there are not many such. Besides it is 
10 looked for, that they should have preachers about them' 
to furnish the want that is in most dioceses. 

The twelfth article. 

That in cases of pluralities and non-residences, the 
bishops shall have the allowing of the minister that shall 
15 serve the cure, in the absence of the incumbait; and 
the stipend of the said minister to be appointed 1^ the 
bishop, according to the sufficiency of the minister. So 
that the same stipend do not exceed the third part of the 
clear yearly value of the benefice. 

30 The answer. 

This is very reasonable and according to law. 

The thirteenth article. 

There is one faculty of great inconvenienoe granted not 
only by the court of faculties, but by the chancellor of 
35 every diocese, viz. The dispensation of marriage without 
banns asking. By occasion whereof, chQdren make d^ 
ordered matches without the assent of their parents; and 
orphans are left to the spoil of unthrift penons. 



436 The huhopf amwer to the boat ofartieki. [C. 

The answer. 

I. It may be so qualified that no inconyenience shall 
ensue thereof. II. There be divers reasonable occasions, 
that daily happen which may hinder the thrice asking of 
banns; which causes are meet to be considered of and 5 
allowed by the ordinary, or his deputy. III. The incon- 
venience that is proposed is in most dioceses already met 
withal, by putting these conditions in the faculty ; viz. 
that they have their governors' consent ; that there is no 
suit for matrimony depending; no precontract^ nor any'^ 
other impediment, which the party is by a bond with 
sureties bound unto. So that by this mean^ this incon- 
venience is better met withal, than by asking the banns 
thrice ; which may be done, and yet these impediments 
remain. IV. And since the bonds have been qualified '^ 
as is above said, being about one twelvemonth past, expe- 
rience doth teach, that none of the pretended inconve* 
niences have happened. 

A general answer to aU the articles of excommunieationy 

commutation^ and dispensation. 

Generally, This alteration, confusion, and abridgment <<> 
of exercise of that jurisdiction will shortly decay the pro- 
fession of the canon law, and civil law together. Whereby 
divers now are bred up in learning, in languages, in 
studies ; so that they are enabled to serve the realm in 
any foreign service, as well as any one sort of learned '5 
men in the realm besides. 



END OF VOL. I. J 

9. 




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